BREAKING THE CYCLE: THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT: Ontario… · BREAKING THE CYCLE: THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT ontario.ca/breakingthecycle2 The Honourable Teresa Piruzza Minister of Children

BREAKING THE CYCLE:THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT

Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy2013 Annual Report

ontario.ca/breakingthecycle

http://ontario.ca/breakingthecycle

BREAKING THE CYCLE: THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT ontario.ca/breakingthecycle


TABLE OF CONTENTS

Minister’s Message . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 1

Introduction

Ontario’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 3

Measuring Our Progress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 8

The Child and Youth Opportunity Wheel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 9

Progress: Building on the Foundation

Stronger, Healthier Kids and Families

Giving Kids the Best Possible Start in Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 10 Ontario Child Benefit Best Start Child and Family Centres Child Care Full-Day Kindergarten Parenting and Family Literacy Centres Student Nutrition Program After School Program

Increasing Access to Health Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 17 Children In Need Of Treatment/Healthy Smiles Ontario Eye See…Eye Learn

Supporting the Unique Needs of Aboriginal Communities . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 19 Aboriginal Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program Akwe:go Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program/Wasa-Nabin Urban Aboriginal Youth Program

Supporting Mental Wellness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 21 Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy: Initial Focus on Children and Youth

Engaging Youth . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 23 Youth Action Plan Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed Crown Ward Success Strategy Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent Ontario Crown Ward Education Championship Teams Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program Living and Learning Grant Ontario Access Grant for Crown Wards 100% Tuition Aid for Youth Leaving Care Youth in Transition Worker Program

Supporting Educational Excellence . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 27 Summer Learning Program Urban and Priority High Schools Community Use of Schools: Priority Schools Initiative Specialist High Skills Major Pathways to Education Parents Reaching Out Grants



Postsecondary Financial Supports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 33 Ontario Student Assistance Program 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant Cap on Tuition Increases Repayment Assistance Adult and Continuing Education

Opportunity for All

Safe and Secure Housing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 36 Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative Municipal Infrastructure Strategy – Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative: Social Housing Fund Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program Annual Rent Increase Guideline

Income Support and Minimum Wage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 41 Minimum Wage Advisory Panel Social Assistance Review Ontario Personal Income Tax Reductions

Making Ontario More Accessible. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 45 Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

Removing Barriers to Employment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 47 Youth Jobs Strategy A New Direction: Ontario’s Immigration Strategy/Bridge Training Programs Second Career Program Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology Training Program Employment Training for Abused/At-Risk Women Microlending for Women in Ontario Program Employment Ontario’s Employment Service Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (Live-in Caregivers and Others), 2009

Stronger Economic and Social Foundations

Supporting Social Enterprises . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 55 Partnership Project/Partnership Grant Social Venture Connexion Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund for Social Enterprises

Measures: Indicators and Outcomes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 58

A Look Back – An Assessment of Ontario’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 65

Impact of the First Strategy Key Poverty Commitments Opportunities for Ontario’s Next Poverty Reduction Strategy Stronger Coordination

The Way Forward . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . page 68

A Collective Fight Against Poverty – The Role of Federal and Municipal Governments Ontario’s New Five-Year Poverty Reduction Strategy


BREAKING THE CYCLE: THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT ontario.ca/breakingthecycle 1

The Poverty Reduction Strategycontinues to be part of ourgovernment’s plan to invest in people, build moderninfrastructure and support adynamic and innovative businessclimate, which is helping to builda successful, vital province whereeveryone has the opportunity toconnect, contribute and achievetheir goals.

MINISTER’S MESSAGE

The Honourable Teresa Piruzza

Minister of Children and Youth Services

When Breaking the Cycle: Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy was launched in

2008, it signalled a bold, new vision for a fairer society in Ontario. The strategy

recognized that we all need to work together – community partners and all levels

of government – to break down barriers, provide opportunities and create more

prosperity for all. Poverty is a complex issue that requires a variety of approaches

to overcome many different obstacles.

As Minister of Children and Youth Services and Minister Responsible for Women’s

Issues, I am proud of Ontario’s efforts to reduce poverty over the past five years.

I am pleased to provide the 2013 Annual Report on the progress of our first

Poverty Reduction Strategy, including an assessment of the last five years.

Our government has remained steadfast in our commitment to alleviate poverty.

This report demonstrates that the initiatives and strategic investments have helped

low-income Ontarians and reduced child poverty in the province by lifting more

than 47,000 children and their families out of poverty between 2008 and 2011.

In 2011 alone, the strategy prevented an additional 61,000 children from living in

poverty. Through increases to the Ontario Child Benefit, social assistance and

minimum wage, families now have more income to meet their basic needs.

Our first strategy focused on providing young people with the supports and

opportunities they need to develop into healthy, productive adults. We made

significant progress through strategic initiatives that support healthy growth and

development, as well as school success. This included a focus on early literacy and

numeracy, full-day kindergarten, student nutrition, dental care, quality child care,

after school programs, and youth employment and training opportunities.

This report includes an assessment of the key commitments made under our first

strategy. For example, full-day kindergarten – a key commitment – is on track to

be fully implemented across the province.

As we continue to develop our new strategy for the next five years, it is with the

belief that all of our partners – including other levels of government, community

agencies, businesses, young people, families and those who have lived in poverty –

have important roles to play. So many Ontarians, in communities across the

province, were instrumental in the creation of our first strategy, and are a source

of great inspiration and ideas for our next strategy.


The Honourable Teresa Piruzza

Minister of Children and Youth Services

I am pleased that Premier Wynne has created a permanent Cabinet Committee

on Poverty Reduction and Social Inclusion to take a cross-government approach

to developing our second strategy. As co-chair with Ted McMeekin, Minister of

Community and Social Services, I am determined to build on the success of our

first strategy in order to break the cycle of poverty and create opportunities for

all Ontarians.

I want to thank the thousands of individuals and organizations who participated

in productive discussions on poverty in communities across Ontario this past

summer and fall. Thank you for your passion, your insights and your suggestions.

The Poverty Reduction Strategy continues to be part of our government’s plan

to invest in people, build modern infrastructure and support a dynamic and

innovative business climate, which is helping to build a successful, vital province

where everyone has the opportunity to connect, contribute and achieve their goals.

By working together we will build on the success of our first strategy and continue

to break the cycle of poverty.


INTRODUCTION Ontario’s First Poverty Reduction Strategy

Poverty Reduction Strategy Milestones

2008

� Public consultations are held.

� Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy is launched.

2009

� A Results Table is established to guide and monitor implementation of the strategy.

� The historic Poverty Reduction Act, 2009 is passed.

� The Ontario Child Benefit phase-in schedule is accelerated by two years – maximum annual payments are increased to $1,100 annually per child under 18.

2010

� Minimum wage is increased to $10.25.

� Full-day kindergarten is rolled out in nearly 600 schools across the province for approximately 35,000 students.

� The Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy is released.

Ontario’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy, Breaking the Cycle, was

transformational in nature. It set out a bold vision to break the cycle

of intergenerational poverty by focusing on children and their families.

Launched in late 2008, the strategy increased supports and invested in

protecting the most vulnerable children and families in Ontario, which

helped shelter them from the economic impact of the recession and

provided financial stability when low-income families needed it most.

Our government invested substantially in building a better and more

prosperous future for children and their families. We created a strong

foundation to help lift children and low-income families out of poverty

by providing them with the tools to reach their full potential.

Poverty increases costs to our health care, justice, and social assistance

systems. By addressing the root causes of poverty, we are developing

a healthy, educated, and employable workforce that is critical to the

economic and future success of our province.

Breaking the Cycle of Poverty

From the outset, the strategy focused on breaking the cycle of

poverty by targeting its root causes. Improving the lives of children

in low-income families was at the heart of Ontario’s first Poverty

Reduction Strategy.

Our government was determined to look beyond “Band-Aid” solutions

towards more integrated programs and initiatives that collectively

would break the cycle of poverty in the short term and increase

opportunities in the long term. The data for all five years of Ontario’s

first Poverty Reduction Strategy will not be available until 2015.

However, we know that through the collective impact of a range of

initiatives, 47,000 children were lifted out of poverty between 2008

and 2011.

We are proud of this accomplishment. During the previous two

recessions in the early 1980s and 1990s, child poverty rates increased.

During the last recession, through increases in key supports such as

the Ontario Child Benefit, social assistance and the minimum wage, families had

more income to meet their basic needs. As a result, the actual child poverty rate

decreased in Ontario from 15.2 per cent in 2008 to 13.6 per cent in 2011. Without

our strategy, an estimated 61,000 children would have been in poverty in 2011.

Our government has also made progress on our other measures of poverty. Each

of our indicators shows an improvement since the launch of the strategy in 2008.

See page 58 for more information.



2011

� Full-day kindergarten expands to nearly 800 schools and approximately 50,000 students.

� Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy is launched.

� The Social Assistance Review begins.

� An agreement is reached between the provincial and federal governments providing combined funding of $481 million under the Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario program.

2012

� Investments in child care increase to more than $1 billion annually.

� Full-day kindergarten expands to 1,700 schools and about 122,000 students.

� The Youth Action Plan is released and makes new investments in 20 initiatives that provide youth at risk with access to additional experiences to improve their lives.

� A 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant is introduced to help students from low- to middle-income families gain access to postsecondary education.

� The final report of the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario is released.

At the outset, we knew that achieving our ambitious “25-in-5”

(25 per cent child poverty reduction in five years) target would be

difficult. We knew it would require sustained economic growth and

additional federal investments, neither of which came to pass. We have

consistently called on the federal government to be engaged partners

in our efforts to reduce poverty in Ontario. Creating opportunities

for people in poverty requires “all hands on deck.” Additional federal

investments would have brought us closer to achieving our target and

would have further improved outcomes for Ontarians living in poverty.

Setting this goal raised the bar and pushed our government to make

inroads on many fronts in our long-term commitment to break the

cycle of poverty. As a result, we have established a solid foundation

on which to build a new Poverty Reduction Strategy and create a

fair society where everyone has the chance to succeed. Our

comprehensive strategy focused on providing much-needed

supports right from the beginning.

Early Intervention

Through early interventions, our government targeted the challenges

faced by children born into and growing up in poverty. Extensive

investments in the strategy focused on supporting the early years,

including:

� Almost $1 billion annually in the Ontario Child Benefit to help

about 530,000 families provide everyday necessities to over one

million children;

� More than $1 billion annually to support modernizing child care and allow families greater access to the labour force;

� In addition to funding received through the Grants for Student

Needs in 2013-14, the ministry will provide about $963 million

in funding to school boards to support Year Four of Full-day kindergarten to help close the learning gaps for children from

low-income families and support their future success; and

� To date, over $1.45 billion in capital funding to support the

implementation of Full-day kindergarten.

Our government also invested in programs like Children In Need Of Treatment and Healthy Smiles Ontario, which provide free

dental services for children from low-income backgrounds to

improve their health and overall wellbeing.



2013

� A Minimum Wage Advisory Panel is established to inform future adjustments to the minimum wage.

� The Ontario Child Benefit increases to $1,210 annually per child under 18.

� Full-day kindergarten expands to about 2,600 schools and almost 184,000 students.

� The 100% Tuition Aid for Youth Leaving Care program is available to current and former Crown wards and/or youth leaving care – the program covers 100 per cent of a student’s tuition fees to a maximum of $6,000 per year for up to four years.

� The Student Nutrition Program is expanded to create an additional 200 programs over two years, serving about 33,000 more children and youth.

� Ontario is helping young people across the province by creating 30,000 job opportunities through the new Youth Jobs Strategy.

� Public consultations are held for the new Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Supporting Ontario’s Children to Young Adulthood

We invested in the future potential of Ontario’s children. Our

government introduced initiatives and programs to support them

to succeed through to young adulthood. We expanded nutrition

programs across the province to ensure that children would not be too

hungry to learn. Through Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program in the

2012-13 school year, over 695,000 school-aged children and youth

were served by more than 4,200 breakfast, lunch and snack programs.

Our government also invested in the After School Program to provide

school-aged children and youth with free, safe, and healthy activities

between the hours of 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. Having access to high-quality,

supervised activities increases opportunities for active, healthy living

and helps children and youth avoid high-risk behaviours.

Education is the key to future employment. Our government made

key investments in initiatives to support children in high-needs

neighbourhoods to stay in school and to continue their education in

college or university or by learning a trade. Through initiatives like

Pathways to Education, we have helped more students in Ontario

graduate from high school and seek postsecondary education, many

of whom were the first in their families to do so. The dropout rate

for participating youth in the Regent Park program has declined by

75 per cent.

We supported programs that targeted children and youth with unique

needs, such as Crown wards. Through our Crown Ward Success Strategy, we have helped youth in care and former youth in care

complete high school, move on to postsecondary education, and find

gainful employment. The 100% Tuition Aid for Youth Leaving Care program is for current and former Crown wards and/or youth leaving

care. The program will cover 100 per cent of a student’s tuition fees to

a maximum of $6,000 per year, and is available for up to four years of

postsecondary study.

Our government also made significant investments in the Ontario Student Assistance Program, including the introduction of the new

30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant, which increases the opportunity for

students to access postsecondary education by making it more

affordable.


Engaging Youth

We launched Ontario’s Youth Action Plan in 2012 to support youth from

underserved and disadvantaged communities and provide them with greater

opportunities to reach their full potential. The plan included a range of short-

and long-term interventions, such as the creation of the annual $5 million

Youth Opportunities Fund to support local community initiatives in high-needs

neighbourhoods.

Building on the Youth Action Plan, we released Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed in 2013. Stepping Up is a framework to guide

government’s decision-making, and a resource for those who want to align their

work with youth toward common, evidence-based outcomes. We will report

annually on the outcomes and indicators that form Stepping Up’s Profile of Youth

Wellbeing, and use the findings to inform our priorities for youth. Stepping Up

identifies a number of cross-cutting actions that will guide our ongoing work,

such as Local Youth Action Collaboratives, a Youth Research and Evaluation Hub program, and the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities.

Employment and Housing Supports

Our government invested in a wide range of employment supports to assist

those who are unemployed or seeking to improve their skills to gain better

job opportunities. This included investing over $314.5 million in 2013-14 in

Employment Ontario’s Employment Service, which provided help to more than

600,000 people to improve their skills and find employment. We have supported

initiatives that have helped laid-off workers re-enter the workforce; foreign-trained

newcomers gain a foothold in their adopted homeland; and women at risk of

domestic violence gain independence by acquiring marketable job skills.

We have also overseen the largest affordable housing investment in Ontario’s

history by committing nearly $3 billion since 2003 to create and repair affordable

housing, provide rent supplements and housing allowances, and support many

other related initiatives.

Safety Net

Our government has taken steps to strengthen the social safety net for Ontarians

most in need. We have increased social assistance rates by 16 to 18.7 per cent for

singles, families and individuals with disabilities. We also established the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario, which conducted the first

comprehensive review of social assistance in the province in over two decades.

The Commission’s advice helped us start our reform plan this year with a focus

on improving incomes, promoting better employment outcomes, and increasing

fairness.

We continued to invest in social assistance even while tackling the deficit, to

secure the future of the province’s social programs on which so many low-income

Ontarians depend. This year, we announced investments of more than $400 million

over three years. We improved the rates again, with priority given to those in

deepest need. We are also allowing clients to earn up to $200 a month without

affecting their assistance. This can help them gain a foothold in the workforce and


move towards greater independence. And we increased the amount of assets

people can retain when they need to turn to Ontario Works so they don’t have

to give everything up to get help.

We have acknowledged the need for careful and measured action to reform this

system over time. Our government is continuing to work with our partners, clients

and others to map out a plan for change as we move forward.

Starting in 2004, our government has implemented seven successive increases to

minimum wage – from $6.85 to $10.25. As a sign of our ongoing commitment

to protecting low-wage workers, we recently established an Advisory Panel on Minimum Wage to inform future adjustments to minimum wage.

Our government has also reduced the economic burden on low-income Ontarians

by introducing tax reduction measures under Ontario’s Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth. These changes are estimated to deliver $2.5 billion of additional relief

in 2013-14, primarily to low- to moderate-income people. The government also

introduced the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant that provides up

to $500 a year to low- to moderate-income senior homeowners to help them pay

their property taxes. The 2013 grant is estimated to provide $210 million to low-

to moderate-income senior homeowners.

Strengthening Communities

To find lasting solutions to the multitude of issues related to poverty, our

government partnered with several social services organizations to build stronger

communities and help lift Ontarians out of poverty. The Partnership Project was

launched in 2010 to strengthen the province’s not-for-profit sector, which plays

an important role in serving the needs of low-income Ontarians and helping to

alleviate poverty. The project is streamlining and modernizing our relationship

with the not-for-profit sector to help organizations better leverage the work

they do in communities across the province.

The Fifth Progress Report

The roots of poverty are deep and complex. Overcoming them requires an ongoing

long-term commitment and the collaboration of all levels of government, as well as

the private and non-profit sectors, and communities as a whole. We must all work

together to alleviate poverty. It robs our society of untold potential.

We are proud of what we have achieved over the past five years through the first

Poverty Reduction Strategy. We remain committed to creating future opportunities

that will nurture a fair society and provide all Ontarians with the tools to reach their

full potential.

This Progress Report outlines the important investments we have made to this

point to help raise Ontarians out of poverty.


Measuring Our Progress

The government made a commitment to report and track the progress and

impact of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. To help us do so, we developed a

set of indicators, which collectively paint a complete picture of the strategy’s

impact over time. The indicators look at poverty from a variety of dimensions,

such as income levels, education, health, housing and standard of living.

Indicators of Opportunity

The eight indicators are:

1. School Readiness

2. High School Graduation Rates

3. Educational Progress

4. Birth Weights

5. Low Income Measure

6. Depth of Poverty

7. Standard of Living

8. Ontario Housing Measure

For more information on the Indicators, please see page 58.

The Child and Youth Opportunity Wheel is a visual way to look at improvements

in each of the eight indicators of opportunity over time. The inside circle represents

the starting point in 2008. The spokes going out from the centre measure progress.

The further the spoke is from the inner circle, the greater the improvement.

We have made gains in all the key indicators.


Notes:

The Child and Youth Opportunity Wheel

Breaking the Cycle: Ontario’s Poverty Strategy

Launchof PRS†

YearOne

YearTwo

YearThree

YearFour

OVERALLTREND

Indicator 2006-07 2007-08 2008-09 2009-10 2010-11 2011-12 2012-13 Progress

Birth Weights*

*Reported on a three-year cycle.

80.0% 80.7% Progress

School Readiness*(Early Development Instrument) 71.5% 72.4% Progress

Educational Progress**(Combined Grade 3 and Grade 6)

** Educational Progress (EQAO) scores for 2011-12 were released in Summer 2012. Other 2011-12 data will be available in 2013.

67.0% 68.0% 69.0% 70.0% 71.0% Progress

High School Graduation Rates 79.0% 81.0% 82.0% 83.0% Progress

Low Income Measure 15.2% 14.6% 13.8% 13.6% Progress

Depth of Poverty 8.5% 7.3% 7.1% 7.7% Progress

Standard of Living*** (Deprivation Index)

*** The release of the 2011 Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics (released in June 2013) included a historical revision to the 2009 and 2010 deprivation data. The data for this indicator cannot be compared with previous reports for this reason. † PRS = Poverty Reduction Strategy

12.5% 9.1% 10.5% 10.1% Progress

Ontario Housing Measure 5.4% 5.0% 4.2% 5.1% Progress

2008

School Readiness

(Early Development Instrument)

Depth of Poverty

Birth Weights Ontario Housing Measure

Educational Progress

(EQAO Score)

Low Income Measure

High School Graduation

Rates

Standard of Living(Deprivation Index)

2011-122012-13


PROGRESS: BUILDING ON THE FOUNDATIONStronger, Healthier Kids and Families

Giving Kids the BestPossible Start in Life Every child deserves the chance to

reach their full potential. Breaking

the Cycle focused on providing

supports early in children’s lives to

give them opportunities to grow into

independent and strong, contributing

members of their communities.

An integrated system of services

for children and families helped to

alleviate the impact of poverty. A

range of programs and initiatives were

targeted at giving children the very

best start in life and supporting them

through their early school years. It has

been shown that a good start offers

the best chance for a successful future.

Ontario Child Benefit

The Ontario Child Benefit is a cornerstone initiative of our government’s first

Poverty Reduction Strategy. It provides a simple, income-tested financial benefit to

low- and moderate-income families with children under the age of 18. By providing

benefits outside of the social assistance system, the Ontario Child Benefit supports

parents to make the transition from social assistance to the workforce. Overall, the

monthly benefit has helped to strengthen the province’s social safety net for low-

to moderate-income families in Ontario.

What We Have Invested

Our government accelerated the implementation of the Ontario Child Benefit by

two years in July 2009, providing up to $1,100 annually per child in that year.

As of July 2013, eligible families receive up to a maximum of $1,210 per child per

year – an increase of $110 per year from 2012-13. An additional increase will take

effect in July 2014, raising the Ontario Child Benefit by another $100 per year to

$1,310 per child per year.

Once fully implemented in July 2014, this represents a 118 per cent increase in the

Ontario Child Benefit compared to 2008.

What We Have Achieved

The Ontario Child Benefit will help support more than one million children in about

530,000 families in the province in 2013-14. Increases taking effect this year and

next will extend benefits to an additional 90,000 children in 46,000 families. Under

this initiative, families have seen their benefits steadily increase and new families have

become eligible.

Next Steps

Our government is committed to its ongoing investment in the Ontario Child

Benefit. The Ontario Child Benefit will continue to be a cornerstone initiative

in the fight against child poverty.

Why It Matters

The Ontario Child Benefit has removed a significant barrier to employment: more parents can move from social assistance into the workforce without losing their children’s benefits.

Did You Know?

Families who have filed their previous year’s income tax return and have registered their children for the Canada Child Tax Benefit are automatically assessed for Ontario Child Benefit eligibility by the Canada Revenue Agency. There is no separate application for the Ontario Child Benefit.


Best Start Child and Family Centres

Our government released the Ontario Early Years Policy Framework that sets out a

vision, guiding principles and strategic direction for early years programs and services

for children up to age six and their families. The framework creates an effective

approach to implementing Best Start Child and Family Centres by September 2014,

and better integrating existing family support programs.

These improvements will provide better access to high-quality early years programs.


Our government invests approximately $99 million annually for family support

programs, including Parenting and Family Literacy Centres. This funding will be

targeted to create an effective approach to implementing Best Start Child and

Family Centres.


The Community Action Research Project has enabled communities to find creative

approaches to integrating child and family services at a local level.

Next Steps

We will provide families and caregivers with universally accessible early years

programs, services and resources in easily accessible locations. The network of early

years services will be supported by an easy-to-use provincial website. We are

committed to ensuring that information and referrals to help families access

screening, assessment, and other specialized services as needed, are readily

accessible.

Collaboration across government and community organizations will establish a core

set of expectations for providing high-quality early years programs, increasing access

to services, and responding to the unique needs of diverse communities, including

newcomers, francophones, First Nations and Métis peoples.

The Ministry of Children and Youth Services and the Ministry of Education are

working closely with community project teams to develop and test strategies and

approaches for integrated services and the development of Best Start Child and

Family Centres.

Why It Matters

A more integrated, seamless early years approach improves the quality of services delivered to young children and their families. Providing children with the best early years programs gives children living in poverty a better chance of reaching their full potential.

Did You Know?

Many parents and caregivers find it difficult to navigate the current set of programs and services for young children. They will benefit from a streamlined and accessible range of services offered under one roof close to where they live.

Poverty Reduction Strategy in Action

e City of London, Ontario has taken significant steps toward an integrated child and family services system and the development of “hubs” that provide clear access points to services for local children and families. e municipality has led a community development and engagement process that helped set an overall goal for neighbourhood-based family centres in London. e community decided to establish centres in low-income neighbourhoods first, so that these families would have access to the services they need most. Source: Ministry of Children and Youth Services


Child Care

High-quality, affordable child care is critically important to the wellbeing of low-

income families. Being confident that their children are being cared for in a safe

and enriching environment allows parents to effectively participate in the workforce.

The ability of low-income parents to seek financial independence is often tied to the

availability of reliable child care. Our government is committed to funding, licensing

and developing child care policies that strengthen the accessibility and availability of

child care for those families most in need.

In April 2010, our government announced the transfer of responsibility for child

care from the Ministry of Children and Youth Services to the Ministry of Education

in order to create an integrated system and support transitions for children and

families. It is essential to align the education and child care sectors to build a high-

quality, accessible and coordinated early learning and child care system in Ontario.


Since 2003-04, the Ontario government has increased funding for child care by

90 per cent – to more than $1 billion. This includes the following:

� Funding to support the child care sector as full-day kindergarten was implemented;

� Extending and enhancing funding to modernize child care, bringing the total new investment since 2012 to $346 million over four years; and,

� Providing $113 million, over three years, to school boards to support retrofits and renovations of school-based child care spaces that can be repurposed to serve younger children.


Through our investments, the parents/caregivers of nearly 43,000 more children are

receiving child care fee subsidies every year. We have also expanded full fee subsidy

eligibility to families earning under $20,000. This helps ensure low-income working

parents can continue to have access to affordable, high-quality child care and play

an active role in the labour force. We have also created more than 22,000 new

licensed not-for-profit child care spaces. More than half of the new spaces are in

schools. Many received capital funds to retrofit or create purpose-built space.

Next Steps

We are committed to continuing our

investment in the child care sector to

build a strong foundation for the early

years. Our government is taking

further steps to realize its vision of a

more seamless and integrated system.

Modernizing child care will help:

� Maintain stable child care fees for parents;

� Reduce child care centre closures, so that parents have child care they can count on;

� Increase quality and accountability; and,

� Increase convenience and support seamless transition by focusing on retrofits to school-based child care.

We are committed to maintaining and

enhancing services because we know

how important child care and early

learning are for children and families.

Our government recognizes that

continued investment will build a

strong foundation for the early years,

which is a powerful key to Ontario’s

social and economic future.

Why It Matters

Investing in child care helps to support low-income families to gain self-sufficiency and build a stronger future for themselves and their children.

Did You Know?

In December 2012, the Ministry of Education released a new child care funding formula. The new funding formula is a more transparent, evidence-based, and equitable approach to allocating provincial funds to target areas where there is demographic growth.


Full-Day Kindergarten

The roll out of full-day kindergarten for four- and five-year-olds in Ontario began

in September 2010. One of the initial goals was to locate a portion of full-day

kindergarten spaces in low-income neighbourhoods. Full-day kindergarten is aimed

at enhancing the learning of four- and five-year-olds to improve their reading,

writing, and math skills. This provides a smoother transition to Grade 1 and helps

increase their future success in school.

Schools with full-day kindergarten programs are required to offer before and after

school programs, if there is sufficient demand, to meet the child care needs of

working families.


In addition to funding Grants for Student Needs in 2013-14, the ministry will

provide about $963 million in funding to school boards to support Year Four

of full-day kindergarten.

To date, the government has allocated just over $1.45 billion in capital funding

to support the implementation of full-day kindergarten across Ontario.


In Year One, full-day kindergarten was implemented in approximately 600

schools for 35,000 children. Full-day kindergarten is currently in its fourth year

of implementation. When fully implemented, 265,000 of Ontario’s four- and

five-year-olds at approximately 3,600 schools will benefit from the program.

In 2012–13, about 62 per cent of schools with full-day kindergarten (1,055 schools)

offered before and after school programs, up from 52 per cent in 2011–12.

Next Steps

Full-day kindergarten will be fully implemented in publicly funded schools across the

province in September 2014.

Why It Matters

Full-day kindergarten helps to close learning gaps for children from low-income families. It helps to ensure early learning success for all children, which contributes to future academic success.

Did You Know?

With the introduction of full-day kindergarten, parents are saving up to $6,500 a year per child on child care and have more employment opportunities.


Parenting and Family Literacy Centres

Parenting and Family Literacy Centres are school-based programs where

parents/caregivers and children up to six years of age participate together in

a range of play-based learning activities. The goal is to help young children

acquire early literacy and numeracy skills. The programs are located in high-needs

communities, staffed by trained early childhood educators, and run during the

school day for 20 hours per week. Parenting and Family Literacy Centres also offer

parenting information that helps to build parents’ confidence and competence.

The centres provide support to parents of children with special needs and connect

families with appropriate community resources for special needs, health, and other

related services.


We are investing $11.7 million in 2013-14 in Parenting and Family Literacy Centres

to support children’s early learning and development and to lay the foundation for

their successful transition to school.


There are currently 172 Parenting and Family Literacy Centres across Ontario – this

includes 17 new centres added during the 2012-13 school year.

Next Steps

Parenting and Family Literacy Centres will be part of an integrated system of family

supports as Best Start Child and Family Centres are implemented.

Why It Matters

Parenting and Family Literacy Centres help children build essential literacy, numeracy, language, and social skills. There is increasing evidence that experience-based brain development in the early years of life set neurological and biological pathways that positively affect lifelong health, learning, and behaviour.

Did You Know?

A 2009 research study by the Toronto District School Board showed the measurable difference Parenting and Family Literacy Centres can make for children in high-risk neighbourhoods. Children who attended Parenting and Family Literacy Centres scored better in five developmental areas, including language and cognitive development, than their school peers of similar socioeconomic backgrounds who had not attended the programs. The study provided compelling evidence that children who attend the Centres exhibit increased in-school engagement and better academic performance. They also have more positive school experiences over the longer term.


Voices of Parenting and Family Literacy Centres participants

“I love this place. No matter who you are or where you come from, you fit in. at’s what is so great – I can talk to anybody and learn from other parents. It doesn’t matter what country you are from, what clothes you wear or what language you speak.”

“It has made a difference because, having no family in the area, I felt pretty isolated. Now I feel empowered and engaged.”

“I tell other families to visit the Parenting and Family Literacy Centre, regardless of how old their children are. I have some friends with babies and I encourage them to attend. I tell them, ‘you’d be amazed at what young children know and can do.’ We often underestimate what children can do when they’re little and what we think they know and don’t know.”

“e centre has helped prepare my daughter for school by teaching her how to deal with other children – how to work together with others, how to express herself when she’s upset with a friend, how to play and share and take turns.” Source: Ministry of Education


Student Nutrition Program

Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program helps community organizations provide

nutritious meals and snacks to children and youth in elementary schools, secondary

schools, and community locations across the province. Where it is offered, the

program is universal so that all children and youth, including those who may be

experiencing food insecurity at home, have access to nutritious meals to support

their learning and success in school.


Our government’s investment in the Student Nutrition Program has increased

within the last five years. In 2008, a $9.4 million investment was announced as part

of the Poverty Reduction Strategy. In October 2013, in response to the Healthy

Kids Panel, we increased our investment in the program by $3 million, bringing our

total annual investment to $20.9 million – compared to $8.5 million in 2007-08.


In the 2012-13 school year, over 695,000 school-aged children and youth were

served by more than 4,200 breakfast, lunch and snack programs.

Next Steps

The latest expansion of the Student Nutrition Program will create an additional

200 programs over two years, serving about 33,000 more children and youth.

The expansion supports communities with higher needs and some First Nations

communities to set up new breakfast or morning meal programs in schools.

Implementation will begin in late 2013. Programs in some First Nations communities

will be implemented in 2014-15.

Why It Matters

Eating a healthy breakfast is critical for children and youth. Nourishment, particularly in the morning, enhances cognitive ability and concentration, which has a positive impact on behaviour and learning.

Did You Know?

One school breakfast study found that children who participated in the program had fewer psychosocial problems, including depression, anxiety, and hyperactivity.

Source: Nourishing Young Minds, June 2012 –Toronto Public Health


Helping students learn, one healthy meal at a time

Students at Church Street Public School in downtown Toronto are getting a nutritious start to the day, thanks to Ontario’s Student Nutrition Program. “e snack program is ensuring our students receive healthy foods so they can focus in the classroom and ultimately learn better,” says Principal Nora Spence. “It’s making a positive difference.”

Church Street Public School is one of several schools in Toronto helping over 137,500 students get the most from their day through the program. e school relies on the generous support of volunteers and the local Loblaws store to provide fruits and vegetables and other healthy food to students in the morning. Source: Ministry of Children and Youth Services


After School Program

Ontario’s After School Program provides funding to recreation organizations to

help children and youth in priority neighborhoods get active, develop healthy eating

habits, gain confidence and improve academic achievement. It also helps reduce

childhood obesity and youth violence.


From September 2013 to July 2014, our government will invest $13 million in the

After School Program.


In the 2013-14 program year, Ontario’s After School Program funding will help

134 service providers to deliver programs at 436 sites across the province. These

programs will give about 20,650 children and youth the opportunity to get active,

develop healthy eating habits, gain confidence and do better in school.

Next Steps

Ontario’s After School Program will continue to provide supports to children and

youth in priority neighbourhoods in 2014-15 and 2015-16 through 134 service

providers.

Why It Matters

Ontario’s After School Program provides a safe environment for children and youth to concentrate on their academics, be physically active and eat healthy. The program promotes lifelong health and wellness lessons in the after school hours when some youth have no other supervised, safe environment to go to.

Did You Know?

Children and youth in the After School Program are provided a healthy snack and participate in at least 162 minutes of physical activity per week as part of the program.


Increasing Access toHealth Services Poverty can rob children and families

of their health throughout their lives.

Providing access to needed health

services that families might not

otherwise be able to afford is an

important step in removing barriers.

Breaking the cycle of poverty requires

providing children with services that

support their future health and

wellbeing. Not being able to properly

see a blackboard because of

undetected vision problems or not

being able to concentrate due to tooth

pain are challenges that children from

low-income families often face. The

Poverty Reduction Strategy is

committed to improving the health

status of children by providing those

in need with greater access to services.

Children In Need Of Treatment/Healthy Smiles Ontario

When Breaking the Cycle was announced in 2008, dental care was identified as a

key priority. Our government committed to providing access to dental services

for low-income families by expanding the eligibility criteria of the Children In

Need Of Treatment program, and launching the Healthy Smiles Ontario program

in October 2010.

The Children In Need Of Treatment program provides a basic level of dental care

to children and youth identified as having urgent dental conditions. The program

was expanded to include children up to their 18th birthday – the former cut-off

was Grade 8, or a child’s 14th birthday.

Healthy Smiles Ontario is a no-cost dental program providing prevention and

basic treatment services to children and youth 17 years of age and under from low-

income families. It gives eligible children and youth access to regular dental services.


Our government is committed to investing $45 million annually to provide urgent

care and preventative dental care for children in low-income families.


From January 2009 to September 2013, Children In Need Of Treatment Expansion

provided basic dental care (and general anesthesia, as required) to 18,306 youth

ages 14-17 with urgent oral health conditions that may have otherwise gone

untreated.

During the same period, over 20,500 general anesthesia services were provided

to children ages five to 13, as part of their dental care. Healthy Smiles Ontario

helps ensure that children from low-income families receive preventative and basic

treatment dental services at no cost, enabling them to avoid urgent dental issues.

Between October 2010 and September 2013, over 47,000 low-income children

and youth were enrolled in the program.

Next Steps

Our government will integrate provincial low-income dental programs for children

and youth into a single new Healthy Smiles Ontario Program in 2015.

Why It Matters

Children’s oral health is important to their overall health. People with low incomes have tooth decay rates and treatment needs as much as three times greater than individuals with higher incomes. Poor oral health can affect a child’s performance in school and self-esteem. Later, it can create barriers to employment for youth and adults due to the poor appearance of their teeth.

Did You Know?

Overall, oral health is connected to preventing diabetes and other chronic conditions, and can affect a child’s school performance and self-esteem.


“My two children were seen at their day care by a dental hygienist from Ottawa Public Health, who advised me about their dental problems.

“I was not able to take my children to a dentist because I could not afford it. e hygienist told me about the new Healthy Smiles Ontario dental program and helped me to enrol my children. She also was able to link me to a dentist for treatment.

“My seven-year-old daughter had one extraction and four dental sealants. My five-year-old son was referred to the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario where he had nine teeth fixed under general anesthesia. My children no longer have dental pain. ey recently had checkups and the dentist said they are in great shape. e Healthy Smiles program helped me when I needed it, and as a parent I am very thankful for these services.” Source: Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care


Eye See...Eye Learn

The Eye See…Eye Learn program encourages parents of junior kindergarten

students in participating school boards to have their children’s vision examined.

The program helps vision disorders get detected earlier and reduces the impact

uncorrected vision can have on early learning. There is no cost to parents. Ontario

Health Insurance Plan optometrists participating in the program waive dispensing

fees and industry optical partners provide free high-quality frames and lenses for

children who need them.


In 2011, our government invested funding of $1 million over five years for the

Ontario Association of Optometrists to promote eye exams and administer the

program.

Since 2011, our government has also invested $300,000 in eye exams for children

participating in the program.


Between July 1, 2011 and June 30, 2013, Eye See…Eye Learn participating

optometrists provided 7,260 eye exams and 2,073 free eyeglasses to junior

kindergarten students. In 67 per cent of the cases, children were receiving their

first eye exam, which underscores the effectiveness of the program.

The program started as a pilot in 2009–10 and has expanded to 1,986 schools

with 86,174 children.

Next Steps

In July 2014, Eye See…Eye Learn will expand to include the Toronto region and by

July 2015, it will include all school boards in Ontario that agree to participate.

Why It Matters

Correcting vision problems early on helps ensure that children are able to fulfil their potential.

Did You Know?

Encouraging eye exams for junior kindergarten students results in vision disorders being detected earlier, and reduces the impacts uncorrected vision can have on early learning.


“As a mom, I’ve done my best to always ensure my children have opportunities to learn, grow and excel. My daughter, Emma*,

*Name changed to protect privacy

has always been a fun and vibrant child – full of personality. As a toddler, Emma enjoyed all the same things as her peers – playing in the playground, going for walks, and learning the alphabet. ere was no indication that Emma saw any differently than any other child her age. Earlier this year, Emma was fortunate to receive a comprehensive eye exam through the Eye See… Eye Learn program. I’m so grateful for the program. Finding out about Emma’s vision problem early meant that it never held her back.”

Source: Eye See…Eye Learn 2nd Quarterly Report 2012-13


Supporting the UniqueNeeds of AboriginalCommunities Aboriginal communities are

disproportionately impacted by

poverty. A range of historical,

geographical, and cultural challenges

present continued barriers for

Aboriginal communities seeking to

overcome poverty. Under the Poverty

Reduction Strategy, we are committed

to tailoring initiatives and programs to

meet the unique needs of Aboriginal

communities in Ontario. We are

committed to partnering with

Aboriginal leaders, organizations, and

communities to ensure their input is

considered and that we deliver

services in a culturally appropriate

and relevant manner.

Aboriginal Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program

The Aboriginal Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program is

delivered to 180 Aboriginal communities, both on- and off-reserve, through service

contracts with 20 Aboriginal and First Nation organizations. Each Aboriginal and

First Nation organization is responsible for developing and delivering programming

activities that are relevant to and meet the needs of their community. Programming

is focused on three primary areas: support for families, health promotion and illness

prevention, and training and capacity-building.


Our government invests $4.4 million annually in the Aboriginal Fetal Alcohol

Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program.


In 2012–2013, 38,823 clients were served and 2,941 events were held for 53,500

participants. The goal is to prevent Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and to support

individuals living with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder reach their full potential.

Next Steps

Our government is undertaking policy work to inform the development of a

comprehensive cross-government approach to Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder.


Teachers in communities supported by the Aboriginal Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program have observed improvements in students’ ability to concentrate and in their academic performance following the program’s implementation. Families have reported that community kitchens, with their provision of recipe books and cooking utensils, have contributed to increased self-confidence related to culinary skills, reduced grocery expenses, and increased quality time at family meals. Parents have reported that kids are less hyperactive and they are able to increase focus on tasks when processed food additives are removed and ingredients are chosen for meals made from scratch. Source: Aboriginal Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder and Child Nutrition Program 2012-13 (Service Providers’ Work Plans)


Akwe:go Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program/Wasa-Nabin Urban Aboriginal Youth Program

The Akwe:go Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program and Wasa-Nabin Urban

Aboriginal Youth Program address the mental, physical, and emotional health and

wellness of Aboriginal children and youth in a culturally relevant and holistic way.

Akwe:go focuses on children aged seven to 12, while Wasa-Nabin targets youth

13 to 18 years of age living off-reserve.

These programs provide at-risk children and youth with supports, tools, and

activities to help foster healthy lifestyle choices. Both Akwe:go and Wasa-Nabin

services are community-based and tailored to meet the individual needs of the

participants involved.

Aboriginal children, youth, and their families can access the Akwe:go and

Wasa-Nabin Programs through their local Friendship Centres, as well as

two non-Friendship Centre sites.


Our government allocates $6.19 million annually to Ontario Federation of Indian

Friendship Centres to deliver both the Akwe:go and Wasa-Nabin Urban Aboriginal

Programs.


In 2012-13, the Akwe:go Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program served 774 clients

and 2,973 participants and the Wasa-Nabin Urban Aboriginal Youth Program

served 604 clients and 2,576 participants.

Participants have been assisted with: depression, anger management, substance

abuse, Attention Deficit Disorder, low self-esteem, and bullying. They have learned

about healthy eating and physical activities, as well as appreciating their traditional

culture and teachings. Participants have received school support, and gained a

greater sense of family and community.

Why It Matters

These supports help build the resiliency of children and youth who have limited access to the educational, emotional, and recreational supports needed to foster positive growth and optimism.

Did You Know?

Aboriginal children, youth, and their families can access the Akwe:go Urban Aboriginal Children’s Program and Wasa-Nabin Urban Aboriginal Youth Program through their 29 local Friendship Centres and two alternate sites. These programs provide at-risk children and youth with supports, tools and activities that foster their inherent ability to make healthy lifestyle choices.


Fifteen-year-old Michelle*


was referred to the Wasa-Nabin Urban Aboriginal Youth Program by her father in early 2013 because he was worried about her. She was being negatively influenced by her peers and using marijuana and alcohol. Since coming to the program at the Friendship Centre, Michelle has found her sense of identity through her culture. She is actively participating in cultural events, connecting with elders, and building positive relationships with other youths leading healthy lifestyles. Michelle took part in a traditional naming ceremony and since then has stopped using drugs or alcohol. e significant lifestyle changes, which she has made over a short period of time, hold the promise of her future success.

Source: Ontario Federation of Indian Friendship Centres


Supporting MentalWellness Poverty is both a cause and a

consequence of poor mental health.

Mental health and addictions issues

affect all socio-demographic groups,

but are higher among certain groups,

including Aboriginal peoples, homeless

individuals, and persons with

disabilities. A lack of overall mental

health is a great predictor of poverty.

The onset of mental illness often

begins in childhood or early

adolescence, which reinforces

the importance of focusing on

interventions for children and youth

to try and address these issues early.

The odds of a child or youth from a

low-income family having a mental

health problem are three times that

of a child from a higher-income family.

Left untreated, mental health issues

can result in poor academic

achievement, conflict with the law,

substance abuse, and an inability

to live independently and sustain

employment. As such, mental health

issues can serve to perpetuate the

cycle of poverty.

Ontario’s Comprehensive Mental Health and Addictions Strategy: Initial Focus on Children and Youth

We are working together to achieve the Comprehensive Mental Health and

Addictions Strategy’s goals to improve access to high-quality mental health and

addictions services, strengthen the capabilities of workers, create a responsive and

integrated system, and build awareness and knowledge about mental health issues

within communities.

Since 70 per cent of mental health issues first appear in childhood or adolescence,

we have focused the initial years of this long-term strategy on childhood mental

health issues, to support the current and future wellbeing of the people of Ontario.

Launched in 2011, the strategy has targeted the provision of fast access to high-

quality services, early identification and support, and helping vulnerable kids with

unique needs.


An estimated 35,000 more children, youth, and their families are already benefiting

from the supports and services provided by over 770 newly hired mental health

workers in schools, communities and courts, who are providing quicker and easier

access to the right mental health services and supports.

New services and supports for children and youth in the past year include:

� 260 new workers in community-based child and youth mental health agencies to provide access to services closer to home;

� 175 additional new mental health workers in schools, who will provide children and youth with support to address their mental health needs;

� 144 nurses working with district school boards and local schools to support the early identification and treatment of students with potential mental health and/or addiction issues;

� 72 Mental Health Leaders in school boards to provide leadership and coordination;

� 21 new workers in the court system to keep youth out of the justice system and to refer them instead to community-based services;

� 19 new full-time Nurse Practitioner positions for pediatric and adult eating disorder treatment services;

� More than 80 new Aboriginal mental health and addictions workers in high-needs communities; and

� 18 Service Collaboratives implemented to improve transitions and support coordinated services for children, youth and adults.


Next Steps

Strategy initiatives that will continue to roll out this year:

� Developing and implementing training supports for Aboriginal mental health and addictions workers to increase the supply of trained workers in Aboriginal communities;

� Implementing a directory of child and youth mental health services to help children, youth, and families find the right kind of service;

� Implementing an expanded and enhanced Tele-Mental Health Service to provide 800 more children and youth in rural, remote and underserved communities with access to mental health consultations through videoconferencing;

� Implementing a new Youth Suicide Prevention Plan; and

� Implementing Moving on Mental Health, an action plan to transform the experience of children and youth with mental health problems so that regardless of where they live in Ontario, they will know where mental health services are available in their communities and how to access the mental health services and supports that will meet their needs.

Why It Matters

By identifying mental health issues and intervening early, we are helping to put kids back on track, leading to: better health outcomes, improved school attendance and achievement, enhanced participation in the workforce, more effective contributions to society, and cost savings to the health care and social services systems as well as society as a whole.

Did You Know?

Children and youth struggling with mental health challenges have different needs than adults. Creating a comprehensive mental health system that is accessible and provides the right supports to children, youth, and their families when they need them and as close to home as possible will help them to overcome and prevent future mental health difficulties, remain in school, and grow up to be healthy, productive citizens.


Engaging Youth Youth Action Plan

Adolescence can be an emotionally difficult time in anyone’s life. Youth from low-

income backgrounds often face even greater struggles in navigating their adolescent

years than do their peers from higher-income backgrounds. The Youth Action Plan

was released in 2012 to take an integrated approach to supporting youth living in

underserved and disadvantaged communities by helping them to develop the skills

and resilience needed to achieve success in school, and to go on to excel in other

areas of their lives. It encourages existing leadership and resources in local

neighbourhoods to collaborate on and support initiatives that will have a positive

impact on the lives of our most vulnerable youth.


Our Youth Action Plan investments include the creation of the Youth

Opportunities Fund that is being administered by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

The program, worth $5 million per year, will provide grants and capacity-building

to support youth-led, grassroots and community-based organizations to develop

innovative projects that improve outcomes for at-risk youth (i.e., Aboriginal youth,

racialized and newcomer, LGBTTQ and/or youth with special needs). The program

will also engage and benefit low-income youth, youth vulnerable of becoming

and/or who are in conflict with the law, youth in care or who have experience with

child welfare services, and/or youth who have dropped out of school or are at risk

of dropping out. The Youth Opportunities Fund grants align with five priority

outcomes in Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed.

Under the Youth Action Plan, we have also invested an additional $2.8 million in

2013-14 in the Youth Outreach Worker program to provide outreach services and

build mentoring relationships with hard-to-reach youth, so that they can also access

those supports and opportunities that have been shown to improve outcomes.


Achievements under the Youth Action Plan include the expansion of the Youth

Outreach Worker program, from seven to nine communities and from 62 to

97 workers across Ontario.

The expanded Jobs for Youth Program, which includes 530 new after school jobs,

and expanded Youth in Policing Initiative, which includes funding for 270 new after

school jobs, have also given more youth access to employment, including part-time

jobs and opportunities for work throughout the year.

Next Steps

The first round of the Youth Opportunities Fund grants will be awarded in

March 2014.

There are other initiatives under various stages of development to find innovative

ways to reach out and connect with some of the province’s most disadvantaged

youth.

Why It Matters

The Youth Action Plan includes immediate actions that fill identified gaps in services as well as long-term strategies to address structural challenges, improve coordination and integration of services, and ultimately increase opportunities for youth and improve youth outcomes.

Did You Know?

Through the Youth Action Plan, more than 146,000 young people have benefited from the support and mentorship of a Youth Outreach Worker.

By increasing the amount of youth outreach workers, we expect an additional 5,000 youth province-wide to experience the same benefits.


Stepping Up: A Strategic Framework to Help Ontario’s Youth Succeed

Stepping Up is a first-of-its-kind roadmap to help the Ontario government and

its partners step up and do more for youth. It sets out a common vision, guiding

principles and a set of priority outcomes that are important for Ontario’s youth.

It is a framework to guide government’s decision-making, and a resource for those

who want to align their work with youth towards achieving common, evidence-

based outcomes. Stepping Up identifies a number of cross-cutting actions, designed

to establish an ecosystem for ongoing work and innovation to improve youth

outcomes, including:

� Local Youth Action Collaboratives to reduce duplication and better coordinate community programs for young people. The initiative will include a local planning and collaboration hub to facilitate knowledge-sharing and a Community Project Grant fund to support foundational community projects that build a sense of collective purpose.

� The Youth Research and Evaluation Hub program, to provide research and evaluation resources, tools, supports, and services to Ontario’s youth development sector in order to help improve outcomes for youth.

� The Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities, a new permanent council, to provide advice to government on how to better target existing programs and on new directions that could be pursued by the government. The council is made up of 25 individuals from a variety of communities, cultures and backgrounds, including front-line workers, representatives from youth-led organizations and youth.


� We will support Local Youth Action Collaboratives with up to $1 million annually.

� The Youth Research and Evaluation Hub program will be supported with up to $1.5 million annually.


� The Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities was announced in March 2013 as part of the government’s plan to ensure young people get the right training, can enjoy safe communities, and have access to exciting job opportunities. The council helps us better understand what young people need and what challenges those who are supporting them face. The council has provided input and advice on a number of government initiatives, including the Youth Jobs Strategy.

Next Steps

� Implementation of Local Youth Action Collaboratives and the Youth Research and Evaluation Hub program will begin in spring 2014.

� Recruitment to the Premier’s Council on Youth Opportunities is ongoing.

� The first Annual Report on Stepping Up’s Profile of Youth Wellbeing will be released in summer 2014.

Why It Matters

Stepping Up is supporting those who are most marginalized (e.g., LGBTTQ youth, racialized youth, and Aboriginal youth) so they will be able to access opportunities that will support their development.

Did You Know?

Stepping Up complements the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy, and is part of this government’s plan to help youth succeed and build a fair and prosperous Ontario.


Tyrone Crawford recalls how participating in the Jobs for Youth Program provided him with opportunity and instilled a strong work ethic. “I’m from Windsor, Ontario. Like so many kids around my neighbourhood, my brother and I had to provide for ourselves the little things we wanted.”

“at’s why we joined the Jobs for Youth Program. I got a job at the Border City Boxing Club. I cleaned and vacuumed a lot. I would put the bag on sometimes and let the boxers take body shots at me. Seeing what they could do was an eye-opener and it made me work a lot harder when it came to football.”

After graduating from high school in Windsor, Tyrone went on to become a defensive lineman while studying at Boise State University in Idaho. In 2012, Tyrone was drafted to the NFL as a third-round pick by the Dallas Cowboys. His work ethic garners attention from coaches and fans alike.

“e Jobs for Youth Program gave me an opportunity to develop my organizational skills, work in a team, learn how to be on time – and all the other life skills that are necessary to become successful in life,” Tyrone said. Source: Ministry of Children and Youth Services


Crown Ward Success Strategy

Crown wards face a range of challenges that may be related

to a disruptive childhood or unmet physical and emotional

needs prior to coming into the care of a children’s aid

society. Research has shown that former Crown wards have

greater challenges in successfully transitioning to adulthood.

Focused initiatives under the Poverty Reduction Strategy are

aimed at supporting Crown wards and enhance their ability

to succeed in becoming well-rounded and economically

self-sufficient adults.

Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent

Funding equivalent to the Ontario Child Benefit provides

educational, recreational, cultural, and social opportunities to

children and youth in the care of children’s aid societies and

a savings program for older youth in care. The Ontario Child

Benefit Equivalent is intended to support children and youth

in care to reach their full potential and succeed later in life by

providing them with increased opportunities to build

resilience and to transition smoothly to adulthood. Youth

participating in the savings program are assisted to acquire

financial literacy skills to help prepare them for independent

living.

Ontario Crown Ward Education Championship Teams

A total of 21 Crown Ward Education Championship Teams

are supporting Crown wards across Ontario through

partnerships with children’s aid societies, school boards,

colleges, universities, and employment services. The teams

support Crown wards to remove barriers to success.

Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee Reimbursement Program

The Ontario Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee

Reimbursement program covers the cost of application fees

for Crown wards applying to college or university programs.

Living and Learning Grant

The Living and Learning Grant provides financial support

to youth who were previously in the care of children’s aid

societies to help them complete postsecondary education

and training programs. It provides youth aged 21 to 24

(inclusive) who are enrolled full-time in Ontario Student

Assistance Program-eligible programs with $500 a month

during the school year to assist with living expenses. The

grant became available in Fall 2013 for study periods

beginning on or after August 1, 2013.

The Ontario Access Grant for Crown Wards

The Ontario Access Grant for Crown Wards covers

50 per cent of tuition (up to $3,000 per year) for eligible

current and former Crown wards and youth leaving care,

in programs of two or more years in length, for up to four

years. For eligible students in one-year programs, the Ontario

Access Grant for Crown wards covers 100 per cent of

tuition to a maximum of $3,000. The grant can be used by

students to study full-time in their first postsecondary

program.

100% Tuition Aid for Youth Leaving Care

The 100% Tuition Aid for Youth Leaving Care program is

available to current and former Crown wards and/or youth

leaving care. The program covers 100 per cent of a student’s

tuition fees to a maximum of $6,000 (i.e., 50 per cent of

tuition fees are covered through the Ontario Access Grant

for Crown Wards and/or the 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant,

and the remaining cost is funded by participating institutions).

The 100% Tuition Aid program is a joint initiative between

the government and participating publicly assisted colleges

and universities in Ontario and is available for up to four

years of postsecondary study. For the 2013-14 academic

year, 21 universities and eight colleges are participating in

the program.


Youth-in-Transition Worker Program

The Youth-in-Transition Worker Program was launched in

2013-14. It offers funds to community agencies to provide

support to youth aged 16 to 24 (inclusive) formerly in the

care of children’s aid societies, to help them identify, access,

and navigate services to support their transition to adulthood.

A Youth-in-Transition Worker connects youth to supports

and resources in their community, including housing supports,

educational resources, employment services and training, life

skills training, and health and legal services.


In 2012-13, our government invested $14.4 million in the

Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent.

Ontario Crown Ward Education Championship Teams

receive funding of $1.6 million annually, while the Ontario

Crown Ward Postsecondary Application Fee

Reimbursement Program receives $100,000.

So far this academic year, approximately 200 youth are

benefiting from the Living and Learning Grant.

We are investing $3.5 million in the Youth-in-Transition

Worker Program in 2013-14.


In 2012-13, more than 11,000 children and youth

participated in the Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent Activities

Program and almost 7,000 youth received savings under the

Ontario Child Benefit Equivalent Savings Program to support

their transition to adulthood. Through the initiative, these

children and youth have been able to participate in activities

they may not have otherwise been able to experience,

including summer camps, receiving tutoring, and participating

in numerous sports and cultural events. Former Crown

wards also received up to $3,630 in savings to assist with

the costs of their basic needs after they leave care.

Next Steps

Our government continues to explore additional approaches

to remove barriers encountered by Crown wards as they

transition from childhood to young adults.

Why It Matters

Crown wards often face unique barriers that have an impact on their self-esteem and resiliency and can prevent them from succeeding in school and pursuing postsecondary education, training and employment. Providing additional supports to Crown wards will help them achieve their full potential.

Did You Know?

Ontario is the first jurisdiction in Canada to offer 100 per cent tuition aid at all Ontario universities to youth leaving the care of a children’s aid society.


Brian*,

*Representative of the experiences of a youth supported by the Crown Ward Education Championship Teams.

a Crown ward, is a Grade 11 student who was contemplating going to university, but was intimidated by the high cost of a university education. He attended a workshop conducted by the Crown Ward Education Championship Team in his region. At the workshop, he learned of the support and options that were available to him and other Crown wards to help them pursue a postsecondary education. e information helped to alleviate Brian’s anxiety and helped him to see university study as a viable option for his future. He has firmly decided to attend university after completing high school.


Supporting EducationalExcellence Educational success is key to breaking

the cycle of poverty, but children from

low-income backgrounds face greater

challenges in achieving it. At the same

time, the educational requirements

for jobs in Ontario have increased

steadily over time and are expected

to continue to rise.

Postsecondary education credentials

are becoming more important for

long-term economic success. Youth

without a high school diploma are

less likely to rise out of poverty. In

order to break the cycle of poverty,

a range of initiatives under the Poverty

Reduction Strategy focused on helping

children and youth succeed in

elementary and secondary school,

and at the postsecondary level. These

initiatives support students’ future

success in finding gainful employment

and attaining economic independence.

The Poverty Reduction Strategy also

supports adults in upgrading their

educational skills to improve their

potential for employment success.

Summer Learning Program

The Summer Learning Program blends classroom learning with recreational

activities, aimed at supporting school communities in low-income areas. The

program offers children the opportunity to improve literacy and numeracy skills,

gain self-confidence, and reduce their achievement gap. Piloted over three summers,

the program focused first on literacy skills, and was then expanded to include

numeracy skills during the summer of 2012.


Our government is investing $12.6 million in the Summer Learning Program over

three years. The funding has been increased to extend the program so that by

2015-16 all school boards in Ontario can participate.


The Summer Learning Program has helped students retain what they learned

during the school year, and has also helped them build upon their essential skills

and achieve better results in reading, writing, and mathematics.

Next Steps

This year, four boards received additional funding for First Nations, Métis, and Inuit

programs to support the expansion of the Summer Learning program in these

communities: Rainbow, Keewatin Patricia, Simcoe County, and Lakehead district

school boards.


What teachers are saying about the Summer Learning Program: “Students seemed to be more confident in reading in front of their peers and were more engaged in their reading.”

“Empowering students with the skills to be successful is extremely important if students are going to continue to take risks with their learning. I am passionate about this wonderful opportunity to make a difference in the life of a child.”

What parents are saying about the Summer Learning Program: “I think it will be a lot easier to keep him reading and doing some writing in his journal for the rest of the summer.”

“My child now has much more confidence in her abilities. I think this will stick with her through life.” Source: Ministry of Education

Why It Matters

Students not only decreased their learning losses by participating in the Summer Learning Program, but they also recorded summer learning gains and narrowed achievement gaps between themselves and their peers. Also, parents who may not have formerly shown high levels of school participation have become more engaged with the school and their children’s learning as a result of the program.

Did You Know?

The Summer Learning Program funding was nearly doubled in 2013-14 to almost $3 million, to provide support for elementary students who may be struggling across the province. The classes within the Summer Learning Program are a blend of academic learning and recreational programming aimed at school communities with lower socio-economic profiles.


Urban and Priority High Schools

The Urban and Priority High Schools initiative began in 2008-09. Common

programs and supports under the initiative include: nutrition programs, after school

activities, leadership training, and assistance to students struggling with basic needs.

The program helps to create safer and more inclusive schools, where students and

parents are more engaged.


Under the Urban and Priority High Schools initiative, we provide $10 million

annually to 34 urban secondary schools across 12 school boards who are facing

such challenges as poverty, criminal and gang activity, and a lack of community

resources. Schools are selected based on a needs assessment and an action plan

to invest the $200,000 to $500,000 that they receive.


In schools supported by the Urban and Priority High Schools initiative, there

has been a significant improvement in the percentage of students achieving the

provincial standard or higher in the Grade 9 standardized applied math test.

There has also been an improvement in Grade 9 and Grade 10 credit accumulation.

Participating schools have also reported that the number of expulsions and

suspensions has declined, that more students feel safe in their schools and

their communities, and that parents are more engaged.

Next Steps

The 34 high schools involved in the Urban and Priority High Schools program will

continue to implement and expand successful initiatives from the last five years,

based on the same funding levels.

Why It Matters

The Urban and Priority High Schools initiative recognizes that students in disadvantaged neighbourhoods may need more support than others. That is why since 2007-08 we have been providing $10 million annually to selected high schools in priority neighbourhoods. This type of investment is critical in levelling the playing field for all Ontario students, improving student outcomes and increasing student achievement.

Did You Know?

Urban and Priority High Schools work with families and community partners to create supportive conditions necessary for learning, including social, emotional and academic supports, a safe environment, and opportunities aimed at increasing engagement and academic achievement. Urban and Priority High Schools funding supports schools to hire more staff – such as safe school monitors, social workers and child and youth workers – and to offer nutrition and snack programs, student leadership and parent engagement programs, and programs to improve student achievement.


Urban and Priority High Schools

anks to funding from the Urban and Priority High Schools initiative, students at Clarke Road Secondary School can have their fees for university and college applications reimbursed. e number of applications from this school has increased from 24 in the 2007-08 school year to 77 in 2012-13. Source: Principal, Clarke Road Secondary School, London, Ontario


Community Use of Schools: Priority Schools Initiative

The Community Use of Schools: Priority Schools Initiative provides targeted funding

to select school boards in order to give not-for-profit groups free access to school

space, outside of regular school hours, in those communities that need it most. This

initiative provides not-for-profit groups with greater access and supports their ability

to offer more affordable programming to students and families in their communities.


Our government is investing $7.5 million in the Priority Schools Initiative for the

2013-14 school year as part of the overall Community Use of Schools $42 million

funding.


Through the Priority Schools Initiative, a greater number of individuals and families

have been able to access affordable programming in their communities outside of

regular school hours. Greater access to programming in schools allows for stronger,

healthier communities, and a more positive connection between communities and

their local schools.

Next Steps

Through the Priority Schools Initiative, ongoing funding will be provided to

220 schools across 38 boards of education in Ontario.

Why It Matters

Through the Priority Schools Initiative, students and their families benefit from expanded access to programs and services that help to break the cycle of poverty.

Did You Know?

Strong communities can be a positive influence on the health, social inclusion, and economic prospects of their residents. Strong communities are better positioned to develop locally based solutions to address social needs.


Specialist High Skills Major

The Specialist High Skills Major is part of our Student Success strategy, focusing on

providing engaging learning opportunities for all students and supporting students at

risk of not graduating.

It is a specialized, Ministry of Education-approved program that makes learning

more relevant and engaging for students by organizing it around an economic

sector, while at the same time enabling students to meet the requirements of the

Ontario Secondary School Diploma. The Specialist High Skills Major program also

helps students identify and explore future career goals, and make more informed

decisions about their next steps after secondary school, whether it is apprenticeship

training, college, university, or the workplace. The program enables high school

students to make the connection between their studies, the world beyond high

school, and their future careers.


A total of $25.3 million in funding for Specialist High Skills Major programs was

approved for the 2013-14 school year.


For the 2013-14 school year, there are an estimated 42,000 students participating

in approximately 1,600 Specialist High Skills Major programs in more than 640

secondary schools. There has been rapid growth in the number of participating

programs and students. Students are achieving higher levels of success as a result

of this program.

Next Steps

Our government has committed ongoing support for this program, which is key to

school success for many students.

Why It Matters

A highly educated, innovative and skilled labour force is critical to reducing poverty in Ontario.

The Specialist High Skills Major program gives students the opportunity to gain sector-specific skills and knowledge in engaging, career-related learning environments, and prepare in a focused way for graduation and postsecondary education, training or employment.

Did You Know?

Specialist High Skills Major programs are effective in helping students acquire the technical knowledge and skills that are of particular importance in specific economic sectors, and help them earn relevant certifications that may favourably position them for future employment.

Specialist High Skills Major students have the opportunity to identify, practice, and hone sector-specific employability skills and work habits that are required to be successful in a given career.


Pathways to Education

Pathways to Education Canada is a charitable organization created to reduce

poverty and its effects by lowering the high school dropout rate and increasing

access to postsecondary education among disadvantaged and at-risk youth.

Toronto’s Regent Park neighbourhood is one of eight sites across Ontario in which

the organization promotes student achievement and supports disadvantaged young

people to fulfil their potential by staying in school, graduating, and going on to

postsecondary studies. The support students receive includes tutoring, group

mentoring and financial support with meals, transportation, and a bursary to assist

with the cost of postsecondary education.


In January 2013, our government announced $9.5 million in permanent annual

funding for the Pathways to Education Canada organization.


In 2012-13, there were over 3,700 students in the Pathways to Education program

across the eight Ontario sites. Over 4,000 will be served in 2013-14. Close to

80 per cent of participants in the program have gone on to either college or

university in four out of the eight sites. In Regent Park – the initial site – the youth

dropout rate declined from 56 per cent (twice Toronto’s average) to 10 per cent

(lower than that of Toronto’s highest-income neighbourhood).

The Pathways to Education program has contributed to social cohesion and has also

helped to integrate immigrants into the community. A study also found that overall

community health increased, the rate of teen pregnancies declined, and the smoking

rate decreased among communities with a Pathways to Education program.

Next Steps

The Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities will meet with Pathways to

Education Canada to finalize an ongoing agreement that will be in place after

March 31, 2014.

Why It Matters

The dropout rate among Canadian youth has long been a major economic and social concern because high school dropouts earn lower wages, pay less tax, commit more crime, and have higher social service costs than those who graduate or who have achieved postsecondary education.

Did You Know?

Pathways to Education helped reduce the dropout rate of students in eight communities in Ontario. The young people who have successfully completed the program now have the education to succeed in society and lift themselves and their families out of poverty.


Ryan*


was a Grade 8 student in Scarborough who suffered from low self-esteem. He was academically and socially disengaged. He was restricted by his lack of access to transportation and other resources. Ryan’s attitude changed when he joined the Pathways to Education program in Grade 9. He became close to program staff, who helped him rise above negativity. He began to dream and believe in himself.

Ryan’s mentors helped him realize that he could combine his interest in music with education to make his career goals come true. He now plans to go on to university, and says, “Pathways is not all about education; it’s about life.”

Source: Pathways to Education Report: Gearing Up for Graduation – Spring 2013 report


Parents Reaching Out Grants

The Parents Reaching Out Grants program is a grassroots initiative to support

parents in identifying barriers to parent engagement in their own community, and

finding local solutions to help more parents get involved in their children’s learning

at home and at school. Grants support enhanced parent engagement at the local,

regional and provincial levels with a particular focus on parents who face barriers

to parent engagement.


Our government is providing $3.5 million in 2013-14 to support Parents Reaching

Out Grants.


In 2008-09, a portion of the Parents Reaching Out Grants initiative was refocused

to help school councils target barriers that are experienced by parents in low

socio-economic areas.

Since 2006, the government has awarded over 13,000 grants to school councils

and 467 regional/provincial grants. This is a total investment of nearly $21 million

to increase parent involvement in support of student achievement and wellbeing.

In the 2013-14 application cycle, for the first time, 100 per cent of submissions from

Priority Schools were approved for full or partial funding. We are pleased with the

response from Priority Schools and will continue to promote the participation of

Priority Schools in the program.

Next Steps

Implementation of the 2013-14 Parents Reaching Out Grants cycle will continue

during the school year.

Why It Matters

Parent engagement is a critical part of improving outcomes for students in our schools. That is why we have invested nearly $21 million since 2006 in Parent Reaching Out Grants. Through this investment, more parents are working to identify barriers to parent engagement and finding local solutions.

Did You Know?

In 2010, the Parents Reaching Out grants program received international recognition through a McKinsey and Company report analyzing high-achieving school systems across the world. Delegations from other high-performing school systems (Singapore and Finland, for example) are visiting Ontario to learn about Ontario’s multi-pronged approach to parent engagement, including the Parents Reaching Out grant program.


Postsecondary FinancialSupports

Ontario Student Assistance Program

The Ontario Student Assistance Program is an umbrella of 20 needs-based financial

assistance programs provided to students who do not have the resources to fully

finance their postsecondary studies.

30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant

The 30% Off Ontario Tuition grant helps students from low- to middle-income

families pay for postsecondary education. The grant reduces tuition fees for eligible

students at Ontario colleges and universities by an average of 30 per cent. A

university student will receive about $1,730 in 2013-14, while a college student

will receive $790 for tuition.

Cap on Tuition Increases

We are also limiting tuition increases to an average of three per cent for four years.

This approach increases fairness and affordability for students and still provides

institutions with the financial stability to provide a high-quality education. Beginning

in 2013-14, tuition increases will be capped at three percent on average, which is

one percentage point above the average inflation rate in Ontario over the past

10 years. Under the new tuition policy, for the 2013-14 academic year, the average

increases for a basic first-year program are limited to no more than $75 per year

for about 83 per cent of college students and about $170 per year for about

70 per cent of university students. Limiting tuition fee increases makes

postsecondary education more accessible.


Repayment Assistance

Ontario continues to invest in assisting postsecondary students with their repayable

student debt. Through the Repayment Assistance Plan, student loan recipients with

low income after graduation can apply and qualify for reduced monthly payments or

no payments. In addition, the government limits repayable debt to $7,300 for each

two-term academic year by forgiving any debt above that level through the Ontario

Student Opportunity Grant.


In 2012-13, we issued more than $1 billion in grants and loans, including the

30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant. It is anticipated that the number of recipients

of Ontario Student Assistance Program funding will increase in the 2013-14

year by five per cent.

We are investing $29 million in the Repayment Assistance Plan in 2013-14.


About 371,000 students currently receive Ontario Student Assistance Program

loans and grants, including students receiving the 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant.

As of the 2012-13 academic year, about 230,000 college and university students

have received the 30% Off Ontario Tuition Grant. It is estimated that approximately

300,000 students are eligible for the grant, and that take-up of the program will

increase over time.

About 30 per cent of borrowers have participated in the Repayment Assistance

Plan – most for six to 12 months. In addition, over 100,000 students have received

relief through the Ontario Student Opportunity Grant. These programs provide

recent postsecondary graduates with relief and with greater cash flow to maintain

themselves after leaving school.

Next Steps

Beginning in Fall 2013, Ontario Student Assistance Program borrowers who start

their own businesses are eligible for an additional six-month, interest-free grace

period for repayment of their student loans.

Starting in the 2014-15 academic year, we will introduce a system-wide approach to

coordinate the deadlines for tuition payment with the Ontario Student Assistance

Program funding release dates. This will ensure that students are not asked to pay

their tuition before their financial aid is available.

We will continue to review the Ontario Student Assistance Program for ways to

simplify and streamline the application process for students and their families, and

further reduce barriers to postsecondary education.

Why It Matters

Postsecondary financial assistance reduces the financial barriers to postsecondary education. It helps ensure that students have opportunities based on academic ability rather than ability to pay. It supports the transition from high school to postsecondary education for students from low- and middle-income families, as well as reducing overall student debt.

Did You Know?

Participants in the Repayment Assistance Plan are not required to pay more than 20 per cent of their family income towards their loans. And after 15 years, any remaining student loan debt is forgiven. For students with disabilities, remaining debt is forgiven after 10 years.


Adult and Continuing Education

We provide ongoing funding to 60 school boards to offer adult and continuing

education programs that re-engage early school leavers and adults to complete

their Ontario Secondary School Diploma, which is the minimum requirement for

successful labour market participation. Adult and continuing education is also

available to individuals seeking to complete specific courses required for entry

into postsecondary institutions and apprenticeship programs.


Our government committed $92.4 million in the 2013-14 school year to fund

Adult and Continuing Education.


Every year, about 85,000 students participate in a range of Adult and Continuing

Education programs and successfully upgrade their skills to enhance their ability to

contribute to a changing workforce.

Next Steps

Our government is funding three pilot initiatives in 2013-14.

The Hybrid Projects are being piloted at six school boards to better support and

improve adult student retention and course completion rates in senior-level English

and Math continuing education credit courses, using an approach that combines

direct instruction and independent, online study with access to tutoring.

The Single Parent Projects are being piloted at six school boards to design and

implement an innovative and flexible program for single parents facing many barriers

to finishing high school and gaining the skills they need for the changing workforce,

while continuing to manage their parental responsibilities. The pilots will integrate

academic, parenting, life skills, and career counselling components with community

services and supports that will enable single parents to finish high school and

transition to further education and training, or to the workplace.

An initiative is being launched at three school boards to support teenage parents. It

will look at the factors that make an effective and engaging model for teen parents,

to help them complete high school and potentially continue on to postsecondary

education.

Why It Matters

Adult and continuing education programs re-engage early school leavers and adults (including unemployed and laid-off workers, Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support Program clients, newcomers, and Aboriginal peoples) by providing them with the opportunity to return to school to complete their high school diploma, earn credits needed to transition to postsecondary education, training, and/or the workforce, and ultimately improve their labour force outcomes. Credit programs are provided at no (or minimal) cost to participants.

Did You Know? There are almost 800,000 Ontarians of working age (25-64 years) without a high school diploma. Research shows that those who do not complete high school are twice as likely to be unemployed, three times more likely to spend time in prison, and five times more likely to require income assistance.


Opportunity For All

Safe and SecureHousing Everyone needs a safe, secure, and

affordable place to call home. Individuals

and families living in poverty often face

challenges finding suitable and

affordable housing. When Ontarians are

insecurely housed, it impacts on all

facets of their lives. The Poverty

Reduction Strategy includes a number

of initiatives to help ensure people in

Ontario have improved access to a safe,

secure, and affordable place to live.

Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario

The Investment in Affordable Housing for Ontario program is a four-year program

that will wrap up on March 31, 2015. The Investment in Affordable Housing

program is made up of seven program areas that support the creation and repair of

affordable housing, as well as the provision of down payment and rental assistance

to households in need.

Through this program, low- to medium-income households can access new

affordable rental housing, receive down payment assistance to own an affordable

home, and repair and modify their home to improve their living conditions and

foster independent living for seniors and persons with disabilities.

On March 21, 2013, the federal government announced a five-year renewal of its

investment in the Affordable Housing program to 2018–19 at current levels.


The Investment in Affordable Housing program is providing $480.78 million in

federal and provincial funding over four years, ending in 2014-15.


The Investment in Affordable Housing program will improve access to affordable

housing that is safe, sound, suitable, and sustainable for households across Ontario.

It is expected that the program will build and repair approximately 7,000 affordable

housing units, while creating over 5,000 jobs for the province.

Ontario welcomes the five-year extension of the Investment in Affordable Housing

program announced in the 2013 federal budget. This program is expected to

continue providing funding for the construction and renovation of affordable

housing units, as well as home ownership assistance, rent supplements, shelter

allowances, and the renovation and repair of accommodations for victims of family

violence. Ontario is working with the federal government in the development of

an extension to the Investment in Affordable Housing program.

Next Steps

Negotiations have not yet begun for the Investment in Affordable Housing Program

Extension.

Why It Matters

Investments in affordable housing ensure Ontarians in need have greater access to housing that is adequate, suitable and affordable.

Did You Know?

Since 2003, the government has invested $3 billion in social and affordable housing. This is the largest investment in affordable housing in Ontario’s history.


Investment in Affordable Housing

Sarah is grateful for the chance to focus on her grades, rather than worrying about having a secure place for herself and her family to live. When she was accepted to McMaster University, Sarah needed a place suitable for herself, her mother and nephew to live as they had no other relatives in Canada to offer assistance.

A social worker at a rehabilitation hospital in Toronto informed Sarah about accessible accommodations provided by the Good Shepherd organization. e well-maintained, fully furnished accommodations at Good Shepherd Square in Hamilton turned out to be perfect for Sarah and her family.

Sarah relishes the independence that the accessible apartment offers, including fully accessible entrances, doors and showers. Her current living accommodations give Sarah the peaceful environment she needs to focus on her studies. Her apartment is also conveniently located in downtown Hamilton, where Sarah and her family can easily access a range of community services, including wellness programs. Source: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing


Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy

We recognize that affordable housing can help people break the cycle of poverty.

The Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy has several key components:

� Housing Services Act, 2011

� Changes to the Planning Act, 1990

� Launching the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative

� Launching an asset-building pilot

� Supporting Service Managers in the development of their local housing and homelessness plans, to be in place by January 1, 2014.

The overall goal of the strategy was to move to a person-centred, integrated

approach in addressing the affordable housing needs of individuals and families.


Under the Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy, the province consolidated

five homelessness-related programs into one envelope through the Community

Homelessness Prevention Initiative, which began on January 1, 2013. The new

program is designed to give Service Managers greater flexibility to use a range of

housing and support options to address local priorities and better meet the needs

of individuals and families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including

those who are on social assistance and low-income people. The Community

Homelessness Prevention Initiative is a 100 per cent provincially funded investment

that amounts to approximately $246 million in funding for 2013-14.

Next Steps

Ontario’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy has supported municipalities to

more effectively manage their social housing portfolios and better respond to the

needs of low-income households. The strategy requires municipalities to develop

multi-year plans to address local housing and homelessness needs. These plans, to

be in place by January 1, 2014, will support more locally responsive, integrated and

accountable services. These plans will create clear linkages across the full spectrum

of housing and homelessness-related programs, from homelessness prevention

and supports to social and affordable housing. Starting on June 30, 2015, Service

Managers will be required to report annually to the public on progress against

their plans.

Why It Matters

Improving access to affordable housing is helping low-income Ontarians break the cycle of poverty.

Did You Know?

Access to affordable housing has been shown to improve health and education outcomes for families. It is recognized as an important foundation upon which families can secure employment, raise children and build strong communities.


Affordable Housing Changes Lives

John*

* Name changed to protect privacy

has lived an eclectic life. e former nightlife aficionado and nightclub builder fell on hard times and found himself living in run-down rooming houses. His life has been transformed since he found a safe and secure place to live through the Christian Resource Centre in Toronto.

John lives in an apartment that came completely furnished “down to the salt shakers.”

He is now an avid volunteer and integral part of the community at the Christian Resource Centre. He assists in the kitchen and with drop-in programs and helps other residents move furniture.

John said that he enjoys the sense of community at the Christian Resource Centre and the uplifting spirit of the staff and volunteers. He said he’s glad to have turned his life around from “going nowhere” to doing outreach in the community and making plans to go back to school and even to run his own youth programs in the neighbourhood.

Source: Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing


Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative

As part of our government’s Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy, we have

consolidated five homelessness-related programs into a single municipally delivered

program to better address local priorities. The Community Homelessness

Prevention Initiative is focused on “Housing First” – an approach that assists people

who are homeless or at risk of homelessness obtain and maintain permanent,

affordable housing that is linked to flexible, appropriate support services.

The vision for the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative is to move

beyond the traditional approach of dealing with emergency responses and promote

a stronger emphasis on homelessness prevention and on providing stable housing

for those who are homeless.


The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative is a 100 per cent provincially

funded investment of $246 million in 2013-14.


The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative gives municipalities greater

flexibility to address local priorities and better meet the needs of individuals and

families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, including those who are

on social assistance and low-income people.

For example, funding that in the past had to be used for emergency shelter beds

can now be used to provide a person with more stable housing. Prior to the new

program, the province provided municipalities with per diem funding for each

shelter bed in use. Under the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative,

those funds can now be used by the Service Manager to assist in transition to

permanent accommodation with the necessary supports.

Next Steps

For 2014-15, the total funding allocation for the Community Homelessness

Prevention Initiative will increase to approximately $251 million, which represents

an increase of two per cent from 2013-14.

All Service Managers will receive an increase in their 2014-15 planning allocations.

Municipal Infrastructure Strategy – Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative: Social Housing Fund

The Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative was launched in 2012 in support

of the Municipal Infrastructure Strategy. Through the Municipal Infrastructure

Investment Initiative, Ontario is making $750,000 in funding for strategic asset

management planning available to 37 small-to-medium-sized municipalities’ Service

Managers over three years. This will support them in maintaining and administering

the approximately 55,400 social housing units for which they are responsible across

the province.

Why It Matters

Municipalities can now tailor the funding they receive under the Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative to meet the local housing and homelessness needs in their community.

This means a more strategic and streamlined provision of services and support options will be available across the province, based on the realities of specific communities.

Did You Know?

The Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative combines funding from former separate housing and homelessness programs into a single flexible program.


Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program

The Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program offers affordable,

longer-term, fixed-rate loans to support the development

of local infrastructure projects around the province. The

program provides efficient access to capital market financing

for the following public bodies which might otherwise have

difficulty obtaining traditional loans:

� Aboriginal Health Access Centres

� Community Health and Social Service Hubs

� Hospices

� Housing Providers

� Local Services Boards

� Long-Term Care Homes

� Municipal Corporations

� Municipalities

� Professional Arts Training Organizations

� Sports and Recreation Organizations

� Universities and Affiliated Colleges

The program allows borrowers to spread the costs of

the project over a longer period of time than is typically

acceptable to traditional lenders.

Not-for-profit organizations that benefit from the

Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program provide important

services to various population groups, including vulnerable

populations such as seniors, Aboriginal peoples, and persons

with disabilities. Without the Infrastructure Ontario Loan

Program, many of these organizations would not be able to

access financing to undertake their infrastructure projects,

which would impede their ability to provide these core

services.


Through the Municipal Infrastructure Investment Initiative,

Ontario is providing $750,000 in funding to 37 Consolidated

Municipal Service Managers over three years to help support

social housing asset management.

The Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program borrows from the

financial market or through the Ontario Financing Authority

on behalf of eligible entities on a full cost-recovery basis.


Since 2003, the Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program has

approved and executed $7.02 billion in affordable loans to

348 eligible recipients to help them build or upgrade their

infrastructure for approximately 1,900 infrastructure projects

with a total project value of $11.5 billion. A range of not-for-

profit organizations benefit from the program.

Next Steps

The Infrastructure Ontario Loan Program has been

expanded several times since its inception to include

financing of infrastructure expenditures by municipalities,

universities and some not-for-profit organizations. Further

expansions of the initiative are being considered.

Why It Matters

Without our government’s support to access capital financing, many not-for-profit organizations would not be able to access the necessary financing to undertake their infrastructure projects, which would impede their ability to provide core services to Ontarians in need.

Did You Know?

Taking advantage of historically low interest rates and Infrastructure Ontario’s longer terms, Ottawa Community Housing Corporation partnered with Infrastructure Ontario for mortgage financing totaling $28 million.

The agreement between the Ottawa Community Housing Corporation and Infrastructure Ontario extends the mortgages of eight properties and helps unlock equity that can be used to address the backlog of repairs. Funds will be used to make significant structural and mechanical repairs of a long-term nature.


Annual Rent Increase Guideline

The Annual Rent Increase Guideline is the maximum amount

by which most landlords can increase a tenant’s rent every

year. The guideline is based on the 12-month average of

the Ontario Consumer Price Index calculated by Statistics

Canada and is capped at 2.5 per cent.


The 2014 Rent Increase Guideline is 0.8 per cent and will

provide tenants with more predictable and stable rents. The

2014 Guideline was announced on June 21, 2013 and applies

to approximately one million tenant households in the

province – about 87 per cent of the market.

Next Steps

The 2014 Guideline will apply to all rent increases in 2014.

Why It Matters

Capping rent increases at 2.5 per cent provides predictability and keeps rental housing affordable. This allows tenants to devote more of their income to savings, education and other essential items.

Did You Know?

The 2014 Rent Increase Guideline is 0.8 per cent, the second lowest in the history of rent regulation in Ontario.

This means that a tenant paying $1,000 a month in rent will have their maximum rent increase capped at $8 per month ($96 per year).

[Landlords wishing to increase rents in excess of this amount will need to apply to the Landlord and Tenant Board for approval of an above guideline increase.]


Income Support andMinimum Wage Everyone needs a basic income

to meet their needs. The Poverty

Reduction Strategy has demonstrated

our commitment to addressing the

need for income support and

adjustments to the minimum wage

to ensure that low-income Ontarians

have the resources they require to

successfully transition to financial

independence.

Minimum Wage Advisory Panel

In the 2013 Ontario Budget, we announced that we would establish an Advisory

Panel to provide advice regarding future adjustments to Ontario’s minimum wage.

The panel will examine minimum wage models in other jurisdictions, as well as

gather input from stakeholders and the public on the minimum wage policy and

its impact on workers and business.


Our government has implemented seven successive increases to minimum wage,

from $6.85 to $10.25, starting in 2004. The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel will

help develop a more consistent approach to addressing minimum wage increases

in future.

The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel has:

� Received submissions in response to a consultation paper that was posted on the Ministry of Labour website (www.ontario.ca/minimumwagereview)

� Considered trends and developments related to minimum wage in other jurisdictions, including an analysis of approaches and mechanisms used in those jurisdictions

� Held internal consultations led by the Ministry of Labour in October and November 2013

� Held regional public consultations from September to November 2013

Next Steps

The government expects to receive the Minimum Wage Advisory Panel’s report

and recommendations in December 2013.

Why It Matters

The Minimum Wage Advisory Panel is one of the ways our government is demonstrating our continued commitment to raising living standards for vulnerable workers and supporting Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Did You Know?

Minimum wage was frozen for nine years under the previous government. Since 2003, our government has increased the minimum wage by 50 per cent from $6.85 to $10.25.

http://www.ontario.ca/minimumwagereview


Social Assistance Review

When Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy was initially launched, our government

committed to reviewing social assistance with the goal of removing barriers and

increasing opportunity – particularly for people trying to transition to employment.

The Commission for the Review of Social Assistance in Ontario released its final

report to government in October 2012.


In the 2013 Budget, our government committed to investing more than

$400 million over three years to improve incomes, promote better employment

outcomes, and increase fairness within social assistance.


The 2013 Budget took initial steps to implement key recommendations from the

Commission’s report, recognizing that social assistance needs to be better focused

on helping more people find employment, and providing recipients with improved

financial security.

In our first year of reform, we have:

� Increased support by one per cent for individuals and families receiving Ontario Works and people with disabilities who rely on the Ontario Disability Support Program;

� Provided single adults without children receiving Ontario Works with a top-up of $14 a month, for a total increase of $20 a month or about three per cent;

� Allowed all social assistance clients to earn up to $200 a month without affecting the level of their assistance;

� Promoted financial independence and security among social assistance clients by increasing the amount of assets they are allowed to retain, such as bank savings or a car;

� Simplified the rules on self-employment earnings and treatment of gifts; and

� Enhanced flexibility in how assets are treated in First Nation and remote northern communities to reflect their unique realities.

Next Steps

The initial changes introduced this year set the stage for long-term transformation

of the social assistance system.

We are engaging our partners, clients and others for diverse input into our longer-

term plan for reform. This provides an opportunity to share information about

current system challenges and get advice on future program design.

The government is also working across ministries on the 2013 Budget commitment

to establish a Partnership Council on Employment Opportunities for People with

Disabilities to champion hiring people with disabilities.

In addition, the government will engage with municipalities, First Nations and

employment service providers on developing better ways to link social assistance

recipients to employment and training opportunities, such as programs offered

through Employment Ontario.


We are also pursuing other efforts that aim to promote better employment

opportunities for people furthest from the labour market and improve client service

experience, including:

� Having discussions with employers, service delivery partners, First Nations, labour representatives, advocates and people with lived experience on how to improve social assistance employment services and supports for those who are able to work, and to better connect clients, including people with disabilities, to the workforce;

� Piloting a pre-employment skills training project by the Hospitality Workers Training Centre to recruit 30 Ontario Disability Support Program clients to participate in training sessions in the kitchen of employer partners, leading to potential employment in the hospitality industry; and

� Piloting a standard assessment questionnaire for Ontario Disability Support Program clients to get a better understanding of their needs and goals in order to provide assistance, and refer them to other supports and services in their community as appropriate.

Why It Matters

People turn to social assistance when they have no other options. There is broad agreement that the system needs to be better focused on helping more people find employment, and providing recipients with improved financial security.

Did You Know?

A single person can now have up to $2,500 in assets compared to $606 in 2012 and still be able to get the help they need from Ontario Works.

Social assistance recipients who are working can now earn up to $200 a month without reducing their assistance.


Social Assistance

Penny*


had a personal goal – to work in a job preparing food for residents of a local nursing home.

At the age of 49, Penny believed she could have a new career and hoped that one day she could fully support herself.

Penny had been looking for work for two years and she had her Personal Support Worker certificate, but could not find suitable employment in the field due to the demands of the job. So, she took cleaning jobs, while receiving assistance from the Ontario Disability Support Program.

With the encouragement and support of the program, Penny is on her way to attaining a full-time, well-paying job.

She completed a Food Handling program in October 2013, graduating with top marks in her class. Penny is now doing a placement at a nursing home and getting job interviews.

Penny is excited about her future and looks forward to not needing Ontario Disability Support Program benefits once she lands a full-time job.

Source: Ministry of Community and Social Services


Ontario Personal Income Tax Reductions

Achieving our poverty reduction goals requires that we reduce the economic

burden on low-income Ontarians by putting more money in their pockets, so that

they can provide for their families and successfully participate in the workforce.

� Under the Ontario Tax Plan for Jobs and Growth announced in 2009, the government has cut personal income tax and increased relief for people through tax credits.


Nine out of 10 Ontario taxpayers received a permanent tax cut in 2010. Over

90,000 Ontarians were removed from the tax rolls altogether.

The government has also enhanced and streamlined the payment of its former

sales tax and property tax credits and has introduced new relief for energy costs,

children’s activities and home improvements to increase accessibility and safety

for seniors. These changes will deliver $2.5 billion of additional relief in 2013-14,

primarily to low- to moderate-income people.

Low- to moderate-income families and single people are now also better served

by a more streamlined and regular payment schedule. Since July 2012, the payments

of sales tax and property tax credits and the relief for energy costs have been

combined into the Ontario Trillium Benefit that is paid in monthly instalments

throughout the year to help people meet their expenses as bills arrive.

Through the Ontario Trillium Benefit, low-income Ontarians can get:

� Up to $278 a year for each adult and child in a family, to help with the sales tax they pay;

� Up to $1,097 a year for seniors and up to $963 a year for non-seniors, to help with the sales tax they pay on energy and with property taxes; and

� Up to $139 a year for single people and up to $214 a year for families living in the North to help them with their higher energy costs.

The 2013 Ontario Trillium Benefit alone will provide an estimated $2.5 billion to

about 4.1 million low- to moderate-income families and single people.

Low- to moderate-income seniors can also now get additional tax reduction

through the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant that provides grants

of up to $500 a year to help low- to moderate-income senior homeowners pay

their property taxes. The 2013 grant is estimated to provide $210 million in

property tax reduction to eligible senior homeowners.

Next Steps

Our government continues to explore further ways to alleviate the tax burden for

those Ontarians who are most in need.

Why It Matters

Putting money back in the pockets of Ontarians, particularly those living in poverty, gives them more to spend in other areas to better meet their needs and wellbeing.

Did You Know?

Over five years, the Ontario Senior Homeowners’ Property Tax Grant is expected to provide about $1 billion in property tax reduction to more than 600,000 seniors.


Making Ontario MoreAccessible

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005

The Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005 establishes a framework

for achieving an accessible Ontario by 2025. This goal will be achieved through the

development, implementation and enforcement of mandatory accessibility standards

that apply to the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Accessibility standards

are the rules that businesses and organizations in Ontario must follow in order to

identify, remove, and prevent barriers to accessibility.

Under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005, five accessibility

standards are now law in key areas of daily living:

� Customer Service;

� Information and Communications;

� Employment;

� Transportation; and

� Design of Public Spaces.

Implementation of these accessibility standards will create opportunities for the

reduction of poverty among people with disabilities. For example:

� The Employment Standard requires businesses and organizations to make their employment processes accessible, including recruitment, career development and advancement, and return-to-work so that people with disabilities can better access employment commensurate with their skills, education and experience.

� The Information and Communications Standard requires educational institutions to take steps to help students with disabilities reach their full potential, including providing educational materials in accessible formats and providing accessibility awareness training to educators.

� The Transportation Standard requires transportation providers to make their services accessible so that people with disabilities can more easily travel to interviews, school, and places of employment.



Five accessibility standards are now law under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. This means that businesses and organizations in Ontario are

now legally required to take specific steps to become accessible to people with

disabilities.

In 2010, the broader public sector indicated that they are complying with their

requirements under the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Our

government is committed to building awareness and increasing compliance among

private and not-for-profit organizations.

Through the EnAbling Change program, the Accessibility Directorate of Ontario

has partnered with over 50 organizations across nine sectors. We have created

accessibility awareness among children and youth, emphasized the importance of

accessible sports and recreation for children and families, as well as developed

resources to create awareness of mental health issues from youth to adults. Current

partnerships include the Canadian Paralympic Committee, Canadian Mental Health

Association, and Ontario Council of Universities. In addition, the Accessibility

Directorate of Ontario has partnered with the Ontario Municipal Services

Association to develop a best practice guide to consulting people with disabilities.

Next Steps

Implementation of the five accessibility standards is being phased in over several

years to give businesses and organizations time to build accessibility into their

existing plans and processes.

Our government will continue to oversee the effective implementation of

accessibility standards, including educating businesses and organizations on

their requirements and ensuring that they comply with them.

To keep Ontario on target to achieving accessibility by 2025, our government has

appointed Mayo Moran, Dean and James Marshall Tory, Professor of Law at the

University of Toronto, to lead the second review of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005. Our government looks forward to receiving Dean Moran’s

report and recommendations on how to best achieve the goals of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, 2005.

Why It Matters

Currently, one in seven Ontarians has a disability, and this number is expected to rise to one in five by 2036 as the population ages. Creating a more accessible society will significantly improve the lives of Ontarians with disabilities. The Martin Prosperity Institute estimates that with the implementation of accessibility standards, employment income for people in Ontario with disabilities could increase overall by $618 million.

The improvements to accessibility will also have a significant impact on society as a whole. The Institute estimates that, with the implementation of accessibility standards, education levels of people with disabilities could better match those of people without disabilities, resulting in an $85 to $200 increase per capita in Ontario’s Gross Domestic Product. Helping to lift people with disabilities out of poverty will benefit them as individuals as well as their families, and help to build a stronger economy in Ontario.

Did You Know?

It is estimated that improved accessibility in Ontario can help generate up to $9.6 billion in new retail spending and $1.6 billion in new tourism spending by making it easier for people with disabilities to visit Ontario and access goods and services.


Removing Barriers toEmployment In order to break the cycle of poverty,

it is essential to remove some of the

barriers individuals face in finding

employment. The Poverty Reduction

Strategy includes a number of

initiatives that support people who

are unemployed or seeking to retrain

or upgrade their skills to find more

secure employment. It also seeks to

protect the most vulnerable workers.

Youth Jobs Strategy

Ontario is helping young people across the province by creating 30,000 job

opportunities through the new Youth Jobs Strategy. The Youth Jobs Strategy

comprises four funds to support initiatives that will promote employment

opportunities, entrepreneurship and innovation for youth in Ontario.


� Ontario Youth Employment Fund ($195 million): To provide unemployed youth facing barriers to employment with four- to six-month placements – training and work experience that will help them succeed at future long-term employment.

� Youth Skills Connections ($25 million): To promote partnerships among business, labour, educators and youth to identify and solve skills development issues.

� Youth Entrepreneurship Fund ($45 million): To support youth through entrepreneurship, providing mentoring, training and advisory services and access to capital programs to help youth become job creators rather than job seekers.

� Youth Innovation Fund ($30 million): Focused on transferring knowledge and innovation from postsecondary institutions into the economy through experiential learning, internships and student entrepreneurship.


The Ontario Youth Employment Fund was announced in July 2013 and opened for

applications on September 24, 2013.

� As of November 29, 2013, 4,254 placements have started.

Over 150 additional placements were added to the Summer Company program

with funding from the Ontario Youth Entrepreneurship Fund.

� Applications for summer 2014 opened on November 22, 2013.

The Youth Investment Accelerator Fund launched on October 16, 2013, and has

made three investments of $250,000 to date in youth-led technology businesses.

Youth Skills Connections, the Ontario Youth Entrepreneurship Fund and Ontario

Youth Innovation Fund were officially launched on October 16, 2013, with an

announcement by the Premier.

� The selection and contracting of program delivery partners is currently underway.

The Youth Jobs Strategy has a focus on helping youth facing multiple barriers to

employment, youth living in high-needs communities, and youth with disabilities.

Program providers are required to develop an outreach plan to strongly encourage

participation from youth from these population groups and report to the province

on participation outcomes.

The Ministry of Economic Development, Trade and Employment is actively engaged

in inter-ministry outreach and has involved inter-ministry colleagues in the evaluation

processes for program providers.


Further, specific programs have been designed to provide tailored interventions to

vulnerable populations. Strategic Community Entrepreneurship Projects provides

grants to not-for-profits that help 15- to 29-year-olds from high-needs communities

and/or vulnerable populations start a business. The program fills the gap for young

people who want to be entrepreneurs, but who are not eligible for other self-

employment programs. Youth Skills Connections-Community Stream funds

not-for-profits and public sector organizations to deliver collaborative projects that

provide training and skills development to increase the capacity of vulnerable youth

and help them overcome barriers to employment (e.g., a criminal record, poverty),

resulting in long-term employment opportunities for youth enrolled in the program.

Next Steps

Confirmation of program delivery partners and program guidelines will be

completed in January/February 2014.

Programs will open to youth on a rolling basis, with some commencing in

November/December 2013 and others coming online from February 2014

through the spring.

Why It Matters

The unemployment rate for Ontario youth remains unacceptably high and more than double that of workers aged 25-64.

For young people facing multiple barriers to employment – Aboriginal youth, recent immigrants, visible minorities, and young people with disabilities – the rates are even higher.

Our future prosperity depends on giving young people the right skills, experiences and supports they need to succeed in today’s global economy.

Did You Know?

To help young people and employers access these programs, Ontario has launched a website – www.ontario.ca/youthjobs – where youth can use a quick search tool to get a customized list of programs available to them.

The site also provides resources for employers looking to strengthen their workforce by hiring skilled youth.

http://www.ontario.ca/youthjobs


A New Direction: Ontario’s Immigration Strategy

In November 2012, our government released A New Direction: Ontario’s Immigration Strategy, which sets a new direction for how the province selects, welcomes, and

helps immigrants. This vision will help build a highly skilled workforce and support

the development of strong communities where all Ontarians can thrive. The

strategy aims to enhance the economic and social outcomes for immigrants, many

of whom face higher rates of poverty than the general population. Many programs

discussed in the Immigration Strategy will help to achieve this goal, including:

� Bridge Training programs, which help skilled newcomers get licensed and gain employment in their fields. The Bridge Training programs provide occupation-specific training and pre-employment services links to the sector or occupation that skilled newcomers need to continue their careers in Ontario.

� The Adult Non-Credit ESL/FSL Language Training Program, which supports immigrants in gaining proficiency in English or French as a second language. The program includes job-specific language training classes, which cover a wide range of job sectors and provide language training in a classroom or in the workplace.


Our government will be investing more than $60 million over the next three years

in Ontario’s Bridge Training program and over $60 million annually in the Adult

Non-Credit ESL/FSL Language Training Program.


Examples of recent Bridge Training program successes include:

� 93 per cent of the graduates of the Access to the Early Childhood Education Field Bridge Training program have become licensed to practice as Early Childhood Educators and, within one year, 73 per cent have gone on to find jobs in the field.

� Ryerson University’s International Midwifery Pre-Registration Program has helped 92 per cent of graduates obtain employment as midwives.

About 120,000 learners are enrolled annually in the Adult Non-Credit ESL/FSL

Language Training Program.

Next Steps

Following the launch of the Immigration Strategy in November 2012, the Ministry

of Citizenship and Immigration has been leading a phased-in implementation of

initiatives. The ministry will release an annual progress report in early 2014 that

will provide an update on progress made in the first year of implementation.

Why It Matters

Helping new immigrants gain a better foothold in Ontario helps to build a stronger economy by increasing the availability of skilled workers. Successful newcomers and their families help Ontario leverage the global economic connections of its diverse communities, which benefits the province as a whole.

Did You Know?

Today, our population includes people from more than 200 countries, who speak as many as 130 languages. Everyone benefits from diversity – individuals, employers, and the community.


Second Career Program

The objective of the Second Career program is to provide laid-off, unemployed

individuals with skills training to help them find employment in occupations with

demonstrated labour market prospects in Ontario.

Upon training completion, employment service providers follow up with Second

Career program clients at four different points in time: upon their exit, three

months later, six months later, and 12 months later.


In 2013-14, the planned investment in the Second Career program is $211.7 million.


More than 10,500 clients will be supported in 2013-14 through the Second Career

program. More than 95 per cent of Second Career clients who completed the

program prior to June 2013 responded that the skills training helped them with

their future employment.

Since its inception in June 2008, more than 68,000 Second Career clients have

been assisted with their career goals.

Next Steps

The Second Career program will continue to follow up with former clients at

various points in time post completion, in order to continue to track the impact

and success of the program.

Why It Matters

We invest in Ontarians’ knowledge and skills to ensure they have maximum opportunities for success. This is done by: providing the highest quality of service and support to help individuals meet career and/or hiring goals; providing opportunities to make it easier for individuals to improve their skills through education and training; and working with employers and communities to build the highly skilled and highly educated workforce Ontario needs to be competitive.

Did You Know?

Second Career helps unemployed, laid-off workers get skills training that will assist them to find work in occupations with demonstrated labour market need.

Follow-up data shows that 80 per cent of Second Career clients found employment within a year of completing training. More than 93 per cent of clients said the skills training they received helped them find work.


Jasmine*,


a 31-year-old single mother with one child, was recently laid off from her order processor job. She is currently receiving Employment Insurance benefits. Jasmine didn’t complete high school, but her participation in the Second Career program is providing a chance to build a new life.

She was approved to attend a Medical Office Assistant Program for 45 weeks at the Academy of Learning in Brampton. Jasmine received Second Career funding of $17,518, including $9,015 to pay for her tuition.

Jasmine is looking forward to graduating from the program and starting a new career that will provide security and independence for herself and her child.

Source: Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities


Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology Training Program

The Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology

Training Program provides training to low-income women to

learn new skills, earn good wages, and create better futures

for themselves and their families. Every two years, the

Ontario Women’s Directorate issues a request for proposals

and selects training organizations to deliver the programs.

The programs qualify women for jobs in high-growth

information technology and skilled trades sectors. They help

them qualify for further training or achieve employment in

higher-paying, non-traditional occupations, moving them

toward greater economic security. Seven programs, including

one for francophone women and two for Aboriginal women,

are currently being offered in eight locations across Ontario.


The government is investing about $2.1 million in the

Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology

Training Program in 2013-14.


There are about 200 women participating in the Women

in Skilled Trades and Information Technology Training

Program in 2013-14. About 80 per cent of the graduates

of the program either secure employment or go on to

further training.

Next Steps

The current programs are expected to run into 2014. An

invitation for applications for new programs was issued in

fall 2013 for programs that will run in 2014-15 and 2015-16.

Why It Matters

As a result of the initiative, low-income women are prepared for well-paid employment in the information technology and skilled trades sectors.

The program helps low-income women across Ontario get the training they need to earn a good wage, and create a better future for themselves and their families.

Did You Know?

By supporting the Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology training program, our government is helping low-income women gain new skills, new careers and new opportunities.

Since 2003, more than 2,100 women have been trained in the information technology and skilled trades sectors through our Women in Skilled Trades and Information Technology program. This support allows low-income women in Ontario to get the training they need to get better-paying jobs.


Employment Training for Abused/At-Risk Women

Employment Training for Abused/At Risk Women is an

initiative of the Ontario Women’s Directorate. It helps

low-income women who have experienced or are at risk

of domestic violence to develop new skills and learn how

to find employment, in order to help them build economic

independence.


Our government invested approximately $4.3 million in the

initiative that is delivered by various organizations, including

those targeting Aboriginal communities. Funding for the

initiative is committed to 2013-15.


As of March 31, 2013, 623 women had completed their

training. Of those who had completed their training, 462 or

74 per cent either found employment or went on to further

training and education. Currently, there are 10 programs

where abused/at-risk women are receiving employment

training and supports to increase their employment potential.

Next Steps

The current training programs are funded to 2015. The

next round of funding will start in 2015-16.

Why It Matters

The initiative provides training for women so that they can find employment. It allows them to break the cycle of poverty by building their economic independence.

Did You Know?

Since 2006, the Employment Training Program for Abused/At-Risk Women has helped 2,137 women enter training. 80 per cent of women enrolled have completed the training, and 79 per cent of women who have completed the training have found employment or gone on to further training.


May*


was attending her first year of nursing school when she finally summoned the courage to leave her abusive home. e stress of trying to put the pieces of her life back together was overwhelming. She dropped out of the program and bounced around from one menial job to another until she arrived at the YWCA. May knew she needed to be more focused and to improve her computer skills. She attended the YWCA employment training program regularly and welcomed the support and encouragement from the other women. May took a co-op placement in a medical records department. After successfully completing the placement, May was offered a job as a medical office administrator.

Source: Manager, Employment Programs, YWCA of Greater Toronto


Microlending for Women in Ontario Program

The Microlending for Women in Ontario Program was established in 2012 by the

Ontario Women’s Directorate. It is helping low-income women build and grow

their own businesses. Women receive financial literacy training, entrepreneurial

mentoring and skills development, as well as life skills support to help them succeed.

Women who become business-ready within these programs will be eligible to

receive small loans (microloans) to start their businesses.


Funding was approved of up to $760,550 over three fiscal years (2012-2013 to

2014-2015) for six agencies to deliver microlending initiatives. The program (2012-

2015) will be providing an estimated 174 loans, and will be helping an anticipated

635 low-income women acquire the skills needed to start and run a business.

Next Steps

The current microlending program is funded to 2015.

Why It Matters

The initiative provides microloans to low-income women to help them start and grow their own businesses and become successful entrepreneurs. It helps vulnerable women develop a variety of entrepreneurial skills and build their economic independence.

Did You Know?

The Microlending for Women in Ontario program is providing over 630 low-income women with the skills training they need to start and run a business and is providing close to 175 loans to help them embark on a successful path as entrepreneurs.

Employment Ontario’s Employment Service

Employment Ontario’s Employment Service offers a range of resources, supports,

and services to respond to the career and employment needs of individuals and

the skilled labour needs of employers. It helps put individuals on a stronger path to

higher skills training and employment. The program offers a highly flexible toolkit

of services that can be customized to a client’s particular needs.


Our government invested over $314.5 million in the Employment Ontario

Employment Service initiative in 2013-14.


The Employment Service provided services to 664,310 clients in 2012-13. Since

its implementation in August 2010, 62 per cent of clients have found employment

through the Employment Service and another 16 per cent have registered for

further education or training. Employment Service providers have consistently

achieved a client satisfaction rating of over 98 per cent.

The Employment Service network consists of 171 service providers with

324 funded service delivery sites across Ontario. There are also a number of

Employment Service sites that provide visiting and specialized services in their

communities, as needed. This brings the total number of points of service to

over 400.

Next Steps

Launched in September 2013, the new Youth Employment Fund’s services will be

delivered by the Employment Service delivery network.

Why It Matters

The Employment Service allows Ontarians to find the programs and services they need, such as career planning, job search and job retention, in one place.

The Employment Service helps service providers to be more adaptable and responsive to changing economic conditions and better equipped to meet client, community, and stakeholder needs in each community across the province.

Did You Know?

Employment Ontario Employment Service is a one-stop service that makes it easier for workers to get help finding work, or training and education in their communities.

In the past year, the Employment Ontario network helped approximately one million people in our province, including youth, newcomers, Aboriginal people, apprentices, people with disabilities, and 90,000 employers.


Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (Live-in Caregivers and Others), 2009

On October 21, 2009, we introduced the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (Live-in Caregivers and Others), 2009 to ensure that foreign nationals

employed as live-in caregivers are properly protected under provincial law. The

legislation, which came into force in March 2010, prohibits employers and recruiters

from charging fees to foreign nationals working or seeking to work in Ontario as

live-in caregivers. The legislation also prohibits the practice of taking a caregiver’s

personal documents such as a passport and work permit, a practice that previously

prevented some caregivers from leaving unscrupulous employers and finding new

employment.


By banning all fees charged to live-in caregivers by employers and recruiters, the

legislation is reducing the need for prospective live-in caregivers to take loans

(often at high interest rates) to cover the costs of getting employment in Ontario.

By prohibiting the practice of taking a caregiver’s personal documents, such as a

passport and work permit, live-in caregivers can no longer be blocked from seeking

new employment if necessary.

From April 1, 2012, to March 31, 2013, 24 Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act-related claims were investigated and three violations were found.

Next Steps

Our government continues to explore ways to best protect the province’s most

vulnerable workers.

On December 4, 2013, our government introduced Bill 146, the Stronger

Workplaces for a Stronger Economy Act, 2013. If passed, the bill would amend the

Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (Live-in Caregivers and Others), 2009

to extend protections that currently apply only to live-in caregivers to all foreign

employees who come to Ontario under an immigration or temporary foreign

employee program.

If passed, the bill would also:

� Eliminate the $10,000 cap on the recovery of unpaid wages and extend the time limit for recovery of wages from six- and 12-month periods to two years. This would help keep more disputes out of the court system, saving both employees and businesses time and money.

� Make temporary help agencies and their clients liable for employment standards violations, helping to decrease the number of companies that hire individuals solely to work in unsafe conditions.

The government is also boosting the number of enforcement officers in the

province to ensure more workplaces are inspected and employees are protected.

Why It Matters

When Temporary Foreign Workers come to our province to work, they need to be protected against having essential documents like passports taken away from them, and being charged recruitment fees.

Did You Know?

Proposed changes to the Employment Protection for Foreign Nationals Act (Live-in Caregivers and Others), 2009 would extend protection to cover all foreign workers, and require that they be given an information handout about their rights.


Stronger Economic and Social Foundations

Supporting SocialEnterprises It is important to address breaking the

cycle of poverty on a community

scale. Many organizations within our

community are committed to

improving the lives of low-income

Ontarians and creating opportunities

for success. Our government is

committed to continuing our

partnerships with community

organizations, the private sector,

stakeholders, and other governments

at all levels to develop programs and

services that build strong communities

and help lift people in the province

out of poverty.

Partnership Project/Partnership Grant

The Partnership Project was launched in 2010 to strengthen our partnership with

the not-for-profit sector, which includes over 53,000 arts, environment, health, sport,

and community organizations. In March 2011, following an eight-month consultation

process, the Partnership Project report was released. It provides a concrete set of six

recommendations which have been adopted as our strategy to help renew, streamline,

and modernize the government’s relationship with the not-for-profit sector.

The Partnership Grant Program focuses on building sector capacity by investing in

projects with local, regional, and provincial outcomes. Projects support intra-sector

cooperation, communication, and network-building to address structural, foundational,

and systemic issues facing the not-for-profit sector in Ontario.


Our government approved funding of $200,000 in 2013-14, 2014-15, and 2015-16 to

the Maytree Foundation so that the organization can work with partners to fight poverty

and to promote equity and prosperity through leadership-building in communities.


� The province gathered representatives from the not-for-profit and corporate sectors to participate in a Partnership Forum, share ideas, and guide current and future government action.

� Ontario is creating a not-for-profit online channel that will provide easy access to details on government funding, as well as legal and regulatory information.

� We are investing in research on the not-for-profit sector in Ontario to improve our understanding of its size, scope, and contributions, and to support future policy and program development.

� Our government is working to find ways to reduce administrative burdens for not-for-profits, and to ensure that other government initiatives take into consideration the not-for-profit sector.

� The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration recently participated in the government’s Open for Business sector strategy process with the not-for-profit sector and various ministries to reduce administrative burden and “red tape.”

Next Steps

The province recently released a Partnership Project Progress Report, which provides

information on the progress that has been made in recognizing and strengthening the

sector. The report’s findings will inform future collaboration and activities.

Why It Matters

Ontario’s not-for-profit organizations help drive our economy, contributing close to $50 billion and more than one million jobs across the province. They also provide important services to families in our communities. The Partnership Project aims to build a stronger partnership between the not-for-profit sector and government so that we can build stronger communities together.

Many not-for-profit sector organizations work on poverty reduction-related issues (e.g., employment services, settlement services) and provide support to families (child care, after school, seniors’ services, and recreation programs). By strengthening its relationship with government and building capacity, the sector can more effectively serve its clients in all areas, including poverty reduction.

Did You Know?

Ontario’s 53,000 not-for-profit organizations employ about one million people. A further 6.3 million Ontarians volunteer their time, contributing millions of hours annually. The not-for-profit sector represents 15 per cent of Ontario’s workforce and approximately seven per cent of the province’s gross domestic product. The sector also provides volunteer opportunities for newcomers to gain Canadian work experience, and skills development for volunteers seeking to re-enter the labour market.


Social Venture Connexion

The Social Venture Connexion – an Ontario-focused private investment platform –

helps connect social enterprises that have the potential to effect positive social

change with those investors and service providers that can help make it a reality.

The Social Venture Connexion is focused on the growing number of not-for-profit

and for-profit ventures in Ontario that wish to advance their mission, grow their

enterprises and create a positive impact, but lack access to capital.


The government has invested $109,000 to support the development of the

Social Venture Connexion alongside several other private sector partners.


The Social Venture Connexion was launched in September 2013 and can be

accessed at: www.svx.ca.

As of November 2013, 12 issuers are listed on the Social Venture Connexion:

10 social enterprises and two funds.

Next Steps

The Social Venture Connexion will support Ontario-based social enterprises that

are creating opportunities to break the cycle of poverty by helping them to raise

new investment. This would include social enterprises operating across numerous

areas and segments of society, including affordable housing, employment services,

food security and education, and among First Nations and new Canadians.

Why It Matters

Social enterprises provide the following benefits to Ontario:

� Jobs for members of traditionally disadvantaged groups (e.g., Aboriginal peoples); and

� Helping to address systemic policy challenges like poverty through new innovative approaches.

Through innovative financing and service-delivery partnerships with government, the not-for-profit and the private sectors, social enterprises may help achieve more cost-effective solutions to pressing social challenges.

Did You Know?

There are an estimated 10,000 social enterprises in Ontario. A recent report of Ontario-based not-for-profit social enterprises indicates that 70 per cent are focused on poverty reduction.

During its pilot stage, the Social Venture Connexion plans to attract at least $2.5 million in new capital for investment in 10 social ventures.

http://www.svx.ca


Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund for Social Enterprises

The Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund for Social Enterprises is a collaborative

effort led by the Centre for Social Innovation in partnership with the Government

of Ontario, TD Bank Group, Alterna Savings, Microsoft Canada, KPMG, and Social

Capital Partners. It has been created to act as a catalyst in the development of

early-stage social enterprises. Catapult will enhance loans with training, access to

community networks, and a range of other supports unique to the Centre for

Social Innovation community. Being a part of the Centre for Social Innovation’s

community, social entrepreneurs will be able to access the skills, people, and

resources that they need for their initiative to succeed.


In January 2013, the Ontario government granted $250,000 to the Centre for

Social Innovation to help leverage further investment by private-sector partners

for a total fund of $600,000. This initiative was underway as of June 2013, and the

first round of microloans to social enterprises was distributed in the Fall of 2013.


The Ontario Catapult Microloan Fund for Social Enterprise will make between

15 and 25 investments in early stage social enterprises (not-for-profit and for-profit).

It will provide loans of $5,000 to $25,000 to eligible social ventures/enterprises.

Social enterprises will be offered a range of supports to help ensure their success.

The first round of microloans is complete and four loans were issued from ninety

applications.

Next Steps

It is anticipated that the fund will be sustainable through loan repayments. A full

impact assessment of the investments will be conducted over the next two years.

The second round of microloans is now open to applications and more loans will

be issued in early 2014.

Why It Matters

Funding social enterprises will help address systemic policy challenges (like poverty) through new innovative approaches.

Through innovative financing and service-delivery partnerships with government, the not-for-profit and the private sectors, social enterprises may help achieve more cost-effective solutions to pressing social challenges.

Did You Know?

The Microloan Fund can make a significant difference to social enterprises like Furniture Link, which provides job and life skills training and/or employment to at-risk youth, individuals suffering from minor mental disabilities, people with learning disabilities, people receiving Ontario Disability Support Program benefits, and other marginalized people with limited employment opportunities.

Among the first recipients of the Microloan Fund is the Toronto Tool Library, which empowers individuals from low-income communities to engage in hands-on projects through affordable access to tool-sharing.


MEASURES: INDICATORS AND OUTCOMES

Setting an ambitious target of lifting 25 per cent of kids out of poverty over five years and reporting on our progress is an important component of our Poverty Reduction Strategy. Understanding where progress is being made and where we need to focus more attention helps guide our efforts.

About the Indicators A total of eight indicators were selected during the

development of the first Poverty Reduction Strategy which,

when taken together, provide a better understanding of the

strategy’s impact. These eight indicators of opportunity cover

key aspects such as income levels, education, health, housing

and standard of living.

Our eight indicators are:

1. School Readiness

2. High School Graduation Rates

3. Educational Progress

4. Birth Weights

5. Low Income Measure (LIM)

6. Depth of Poverty

7. Standard of Living

8. Ontario Housing Measure

Statistics Canada data for our income-based indicators lags

by 18 months. The impact of our investments on our Low

Income Measure, Depth of Poverty, Standard of Living and

Ontario Housing Measure indicators are only available up to

the third year (2011) of the Poverty Reduction Strategy.

Neighbourhood Material Deprivation (ON-Marg)

Indicator 1: School Readiness Children have a better chance to succeed as students when

they come to school ready to learn. They need to be healthy.

They need social and emotional competencies. They need

language, thinking and communications skills, and the general

knowledge to participate in and benefit from their

educational experiences. This indicator is based on the

Early Development Instrument (EDI), a population-based

measure of children’s developmental health and readiness

to learn at school.

Administered in Senior Kindergarten, it measures children’s

competencies and skills contributing to their developmental

health at school entry in five areas: physical health and

wellbeing, social competence, emotional maturity, language

and cognitive development, and general knowledge and

communication skills. The data is gathered from

approximately one third of Ontario school boards each

year. As a result, it takes three years to cover the province.

As reported in previous annual progress reports, between

2007 and 2009, 71.5 per cent of children surveyed showed

no vulnerabilities. This means that most children in Ontario

are doing well, but there are some who are vulnerable to

poorer outcomes and who may need additional supports to

succeed at school.

Between 2010 and 2012, 72.4 per cent of Ontario children

were ready to succeed, including 79.4 per cent of girls and

65.6 per cent of boys. Girls tend to be more ready for

school than boys at school entry. When we consider

neighbourhood deprivation, children in more materially

deprived neighbourhoods tended to be less ready to

succeed at school entry.

Numerous services and supports across Ontario support

healthy child development prior to school entry. Parent and

child development programs play an important part in

supporting children to get the best possible start in life.

Together, programs such as Healthy Babies Healthy Children,

Ontario Early Years Centres, Parent and Family Literacy

Centres, Infant Hearing Program, Preschool Speech and

Language Program and Infant Development Program offer a

range of parent support, screening, assessment and treatment

services to help children succeed in school and in life.

100

90

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

Rea

dy

for

Sch

oo

l (E

DI)

1 2 3 4 5LEAST DEPRIVED MOST DEPRIVED

GIRLS BOYS


Indicator 2: High School Graduation Rates In our knowledge- and skills-based economy, graduating

from high school is more important than ever before.

Young people with a secondary school diploma have

improved chances for a better job and more earning

power throughout their lives.

This indicator represents the percentage of high school

students who have earned an Ontario Secondary School

Diploma in each graduating year. Ontario’s graduation

rate measures the percentage of a cohort of students

who graduate within five years of having started Grade 9.

For the 2011-12 school year, 83 per cent of high school

students earned their secondary school diploma – a jump

of 15 percentage points from 68 per cent in 2003-04. This

means that 115,500 more students have graduated than

would have, had the rate remained at the 2003-04 level.

High School Graduation Rates

Source: Ontario Ministry of Education

Indicator 3: Educational Progress Province-wide assessment is one important measure of

children’s progress in literacy and numeracy, and enables us

to pinpoint areas for improvement and to target support to

where it is needed most. This measure provides critically

important information on planning for student learning

and achievement.

This indicator is based on the Education Quality and

Accountability Office (EQAO) provincial assessment of

student achievement as measured against the learning

expectations in Ontario’s curriculum. It reflects the overall

results on the Grades 3 and 6 reading, writing and math

assessments.

Over 60,000 additional Grade 3 and Grade 6 students are

meeting or exceeding the provincial standard in reading,

writing and math, compared with the results of 10 years ago.

In 2012-13, 71 per cent of Grade 3 and Grade 6 students

are mastering the reading, writing and math skills that will

lead to success in high school, postsecondary education

and the workforce.

This is up from our 2008-09 baseline of 67 per cent and

represents a 17 percentage point increase since 2002–03.

EQAO Combined Grade 3 and 6 Reading, Writing and Math (English- and French-Language Schools)

Source: Ontario Ministry of Education based on EQAO data

100

80

60

40

20

02003-2004

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

68%71%

73% 75%77% 79% 81% 82%

2011-2012

83%

85% Target

80

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

02003-2004

2004-2005

2005-2006

2006-2007

2007-2008

2008-2009

2009-2010

2010-2011

58%

2002-2003

54%

62%64%

63%65% 67% 68% 69%

2011-2012

70%

2012-2013

71%


Grade 3 Achievement

For the 2012-13 assessment of English-language students,

68 per cent of the Grade 3 students in reading, 77 per cent

in writing, and 67 per cent in math were at or above the

provincial standard on EQAO assessments. Amongst French-

language students, 78 per cent of the Grade 3 students in

reading, 83 per cent in writing, and 78 per cent in math were

at or above the provincial standard on EQAO assessments.

It should be noted that the provincial standard is a Level 3 or

approximately a “B” grade.

EQAO Grade 3 Reading, Writing and Math English-Language Students


EQAO Grade 3 Reading, Writing and Math French-Language Students


80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

Reading Writing Math

5459

62 62 6265 66 66 6668 68 68 686970 70 71 69

7376

12-13

12-13

12-13

68 67

77

61 61 64 646458

61

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

49 49

56 54

6871

75 74

57

76

5962

75

61

81

6672 73

83 83

12-13

12-13

12-13

78 7883

60

6872

55

73

6366



Grade 6 Achievement

For the 2012-13 assessment of English-language students,

77 per cent of the Grade 6 students in reading, 76 per cent

in writing and 57 per cent in math were at or above the

provincial standard on EQAO assessments. Amongst French-

language students, 89 per cent of the Grade 6 students in

reading, 86 per cent in writing, and 81 per cent in math were

at or above the provincial standard on EQAO assessments.

Since 2003, the government has reduced class sizes in the

primary grades, increased teacher professional learning and

raised the graduation rate. Across Ontario, 400 new publicly

funded schools have been built and another 170 are planned

and/or underway.

In September 2013, about 184,000 of Ontario’s four- and

five-year-olds at approximately 2,600 schools are benefiting

from full-day kindergarten. In September 2014, full-day

kindergarten will be available to all of Ontario’s four- and

five-year-olds in publicly funded elementary schools.

Students who achieve early success in school are more likely

to perform well later in school and go on to postsecondary

education. This ensures that Ontario will have the skilled

workforce to compete in the global economy.

EQAO Grade 6 Reading, Writing and Math English-Language Students


EQAO Grade 6 Reading, Writing and Math French-Language Students


80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12


5863 64 64

72 74 75

67 6760 61 61

59

70

63 6158 58

73 74

12-13

12-13

12-13

77

57

76

66

59 6157

61

54

69

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12

03-04

04-05

05-06

06-07

07-08

08-09

09-10

10-11

11-12


6367 68 68

80 8286

8074

7976 7876

80 80 81 808285

7570

7370

7468

7782

12-13

12-13

12-13

8986

81


Indicator 4: Birth Weights Healthy children have more opportunity to succeed in

virtually every aspect of life from early childhood to

adulthood.

This indicator represents the percentage of newborns

born at a healthy weight for their gestational age. Research

indicates that babies born to low-income families more often

have below-normal birth weights, which can put them at

a higher risk for poor future health outcomes. As we

reported in our Fourth Progress Report (2012), in 2010–12,

80.7 per cent of Ontario-born babies were born at a healthy

weight. This indicator is updated every three years. Our next

update will be in 2015.

Indicator 5: Low Income Measure Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy uses Statistics Canada’s

Low Income Measure (LIM50) fixed to a base year of 2008

to define poverty and is used to assess progress in reducing

child poverty. The fixed LIM50 is used to measure the

percentage of children under 18 living in a household with

an income less than 50 per cent of the median adjusted

household income.

The goal of the Poverty Reduction Strategy is to reduce

the number of children living in poverty by 25 per cent over

five years, which means lifting 103,000 children above the

poverty line.

Per cent of Ontario Children Below the Fixed LIM50

Source: Ontario Ministry of Finance based on Statistics Canada’s Survey of Labour and Income Dynamics

In 2011, 13.6 per cent of all Ontario children were below

the fixed LIM50, down from 15.2 per cent in 2008. In the

first three years of the Strategy, about 47,000 children and

their families were lifted out of poverty. The number of

children in poverty was 365,000 in 2011.

The overall children’s low-income rate includes children in

many different circumstances. For example, the low-income

rate of children in:

� Female lone-parent families was 37.4 per cent in 2011, up from 35.6 per cent in 2010, but lower than 43.7 per cent in 2008.

� Two-parent families was 9.7 per cent in 2011, down from 10.7 per cent in 2010 and 10.3 per cent in 2008.

� All other families (male lone-parent families and families headed by a grandparent or other relative) were 21.1 per cent in 2011, up from 13.8 per cent in 2010 and 15.4 per cent in 2008.

Most children are in two-parent families (82 per cent

in 2011) and female lone-parent families (12 per cent).

About six per cent of children are in other families.

The Poverty Reduction Strategy has helped keep child

poverty from climbing in the aftermath of the global

economic recession.

Without the Poverty Reduction Strategy, about

426,000 children would have been in poverty in 2011,

61,000 higher than the actual estimate of 365,000.

15.5

15

14.5

14

13.5

13

2008 2009 2010 2011

15.2

14.6

13.813.6


Indicator 6: Depth of Poverty The depth of poverty indicator informs us on the wellbeing

of those living in deep poverty. This indicator is based on the

Low Income Measure (LIM40) fixed to a base year of 2008.

This represents the percentage of children under 18 living

in a household with an income less than 40 per cent of the

median adjusted household income in 2008.

In 2011, 7.7 per cent of Ontario children were in deep

poverty, up from 7.1 per cent in 2010. The increase partly

reflects the phasing-out of the Temporary Ontario Sales Tax

Transition Benefit, from $665 per family in 2010 to $335 in

2011. The depth of poverty measure is still down from

8.5 per cent in 2008.

The number of children in deep poverty is lower by 25,000

three years into the strategy.

Per cent of Ontario Children Below the Fixed LIM40


Indicator 7: Standard of Living This indicator measures how many people cannot afford a

standard of living that most Ontarians take for granted based

on a list of 10 questions on select necessities. Households

are deprived or poor according to this indicator if they do

not have and cannot afford two or more of the items in the

list. This indicator was developed for the Poverty Reduction

Strategy by the Caledon Institute and the Daily Bread Food

Bank, in partnership with Statistics Canada and the Ontario

government.

In 2011, 10.1 per cent of children were in households lacking

two or more items, down from 10.5 per cent in 20101

1 Statistics Canada has revised the material deprivation data for the years 2009 and 2010. Note also that there was a change in surveys from 2008 to 2009.

and

12.5 per cent in 2008. The all-persons’ deprivation rate was

9.4 per cent in 2011, down from 9.8 per cent in 2010 and

11.1 per cent in 2008.

Per cent of Children in Households Lacking Two or More Items


9

8.5

8

7.5

7

6.5

2008 2009 2010 2011

8.5

7.3 7.1

7.7

13

12

11

10

9

8

2008 2009 2010 2011

12.5

9.1

10.510.1


Indicator 8: Ontario Housing Measure Children have better chances to thrive and grow –

emotionally, mentally and academically – when they live in

safe, stable housing. This measure tells us how many low-

income households with children have housing costs that

are disproportionately high relative to household income,

which can affect children’s ability to thrive and grow even

in a supportive environment.

The Ontario Housing Measure lays out the percentage of

households with children under 18 that have incomes below

40 per cent of the median household income (LIM40) and

spend more than 40 per cent of their income on housing.

The percentage of Ontario households captured under the

Ontario Housing Measure increased from 4.2 per cent in

2010 to 5.1 per cent in 2011. Between 2008 and 2011, the

Ontario Housing Measure declined from 83,607 households

to 78,295 households respectively.

Ontario Housing Measure

Percentage and Number of Households

Source: Statistics Canada

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

0%

2008 2009 2010 2011

5.45.0

4.25.1

83,60775,777

64,26178,295


A LOOK BACK – AN ASSESSMENT OF ONTARIO’S FIRST POVERTY REDUCTION STRATEGY

Impact of the First Poverty Reduction Strategy Ontario’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy, launched in 2008,

was considered groundbreaking. The strategy arrived at a

crucial time when Ontario’s economy was just beginning

to experience the effects of the global recession and many

Ontarians who had lost their jobs faced the prospect of an

uncertain future.

Targeted investments such as the Ontario Child Benefit,

social assistance, tax cuts, and initiatives such as full-day

kindergarten, Healthy Smiles Ontario, and Second Career

helped many Ontarians through the worst of the recession.

Although poverty rates typically climb significantly during

recessions, Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy largely

offset the effects of the recession for low-income families

with children.

The Poverty Reduction Strategy Helps Lower Child Poverty

Source: Ontario Ministry of Finance (using Statistics Canada data), 2013

Unlike previous recessions, the actual child poverty rate

in Ontario fell during the most recent recession, from

15.2 per cent in 2008 to 13.6 per cent in 2011. This is a

new occurrence. During the two previous recessions in

the early 1980s and early 1990s, the child poverty rate

increased. Market forces, if left alone, would have pushed

up the poverty rate in 2009 and 2010.

We set a target of reducing child poverty by 25 per cent

over the five years of the strategy. We believe that

establishing a specific and ambitious target served an

important purpose. It set a high bar to rally around and

created greater focus on reducing child poverty both

within and outside government. At the outset, we based

our ability to reach this goal on three specific conditions:

� Ontario investing in key poverty initiatives, such as the Ontario Child Benefit;

� The federal government increasing the National Child Benefit Supplement by $1,200 per child and doubling the amount of the Working Income Tax Benefit to $2,000 a year per family; and

� The provincial economy growing by an average of at least 2.5 per cent annually.

Our government recognizes that neither the increases in

federal funding nor the anticipated economic growth to

the province’s economy materialized.

Without the Poverty Reduction Strategy, an estimated

15.9 per cent of Ontario children would have been living in

low-income families in 2011. Instead, the strategy prevented

61,000 children from being in poverty in 2011.

30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

0%

2008 2009 2010 2011

22.524.9

15.2 15.2

22.2

15.913.6

15.4 14.6

26.1

16.7

13.8

Poverty Without Government Redistribution

Poverty Without a Dedicated Strategy

ActualPoverty


Key Poverty Commitments Under the First Strategy When it was launched in December 2008, Breaking the

Cycle included key commitments in a number of areas:

� Education;

� Income supports;

� Health and wellbeing;

� Housing;

� Employment training;

� Labour protections;

� Social investment/innovation; and

� Vulnerable populations, including people with disabilities.

Our government also made commitments specifically related

to the governance and oversight of the strategy (through a

Results Table) and upheld its legislative requirements around

public reporting by releasing annual progress reports.

Under the strategy, our government has met or is continuing

to make progress on the vast majority of the commitments.

And some Poverty Reduction Strategy commitments have

been achieved. For example, full-day kindergarten – a key

commitment – is on track to be fully implemented across

the province.

Social Assistance Reforms

The commitment to review social assistance programs

generated the most interest from poverty stakeholders.

Due to the complexity of the social assistance system, the

government sought the advice of an advisory council before

tackling a formal review. This advice helped us to set up and

launch the Commission for the Review of Social Assistance

in Ontario. Given that it was the largest review of social

assistance programs in over 20 years, it was important to

be diligent and take the time necessary to fully examine all

aspects of the system. The Commission submitted its final

report in October 2012. Our government supports the

objectives described in the Commission’s report and we are

committed to the end goal of reducing poverty by increasing

opportunities for Ontarians. Our 2013 Budget took initial

steps to reform the social assistance system with a focus on

improving incomes, promoting employment outcomes and

increasing fairness.

Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy

The Long-Term Affordable Housing Strategy was released

in 2010. It included regulatory changes that reduced “red

tape,” simplified rules, and provided municipalities with more

flexibility to address local needs. Stakeholders have argued

that this strategy would have benefited from a long-term

investment in housing and homelessness from both senior

levels of government. Our government continues to

implement commitments made in the strategy and

recognizes the need for affordable housing and its role in

supporting the health and growth of communities across

Ontario. Since 2003, the government has committed nearly

$3 billion in the largest affordable housing investment in

Ontario’s history.

Ontario Child Benefit Increases

The Ontario Child Benefit is a direct income support that

has helped lower the child poverty rate over the past three

years. In 2009, the government increased the maximum

annual benefit from $600 per child/year to $1,100 per

child/year and committed to raising the benefit to $1,310.

In 2012, our government increased the Ontario Child Benefit

to $1,210 and confirmed our commitment to increase the

benefit to $1,310 by July 2014. The Ontario Child Benefit,

over the life of the first Poverty Reduction Strategy and the

accelerated increase in 2009, had a significant impact on

putting income in the hands of low-income families to assist

with raising their children.


Opportunities for Ontario’s NextPoverty Reduction Strategy Ontario’s first Poverty Reduction Strategy provided both

direct and indirect supports to help lift children out of

poverty. Prioritizing children and youth, however, meant

that other low-income Ontarians did not have the same

targeted attention under the strategy.

Our government recognizes that low-income adults in

Ontario would benefit from having access to some of the

initiatives that benefited children. For example, they could

also have benefited from a program providing greater access

to dental care to help address preventative as well as urgent

needs for dental treatment. Good oral health care can

impact one’s overall health and remove social and

employment barriers.

Our government also acknowledges that there is a greater

need to provide more culturally appropriate supports for

Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal communities in Ontario

continue to experience higher poverty rates than the general

population. In 2010, according to the National Household

Survey, 23.5 per cent of Ontario’s Aboriginal people lived

in low-income households, which is much higher than the

segment of non-Aboriginal people at 13.7 per cent. We

recognize that further interventions are essential in Aboriginal

communities and that the supports need to be holistic,

integrated, and community-driven (i.e., focused on the

entire family/community). Further steps are needed to

broaden the impact of poverty reduction efforts in the

province’s Aboriginal communities.

From the beginning, we acknowledged that “one size does

not fit all” when it comes to poverty reduction. Some

vulnerable groups of Ontarians continue to experience

higher rates of poverty than the province’s general

population. While the strategy included targeted supports for

vulnerable populations, data shows that continued disparity

remains for specific groups, including single parents, recent

immigrants, seniors, and persons with disabilities.

Our government acknowledges that more work has to be

done to fully understand the circumstances that continue to

lead different vulnerable populations into poverty and the

tools needed to help lift them out. Feedback from recent

public consultations conducted by the province to inform the

development of a new Poverty Reduction Strategy indicated

that there is a greater need to apply evidence-based and best

practice lenses when dealing with poverty reduction efforts

and vulnerable population groups.

One significant commentary from an online survey

conducted during the consultation process put it this way:

“For those strategies targeting specific population groups,

the Middlesex-London Health Unit would urge the Ontario

government to utilize evidence to inform decision-making

regarding funding and poverty reduction programs/measures.

Focusing on particular groups, if not grounded in evidence,

may result in some vulnerable population groups being

inadvertently overlooked.”

The strategy relied on a suite of indicators to measure the

impacts of indirect supports on lifting kids out of poverty.

While all the indicators show improvement, our government

believes there is a need to fine-tune indicators moving

forward in order to help us more effectively use data results

to understand the root causes of poverty among certain

groups and the types of interventions that would be most

effective.

Stronger Coordination A Poverty Reduction Strategy Results Table was created

to oversee the monitoring and implementation of Ontario’s

first Poverty Reduction Strategy, including the preparation of

Annual Progress Reports. It also acted as a clearinghouse to

review and provide advice on policies and programs within

government with significant poverty-related implications.

Looking back, our government sees that this oversight group

could have benefited from a broader mandate to provide

policy and program advice to impact the implementation

and delivery of the first strategy.

With the passage of the Poverty Reduction Act, 2009, our

government made a long-term commitment to poverty

reduction. Successive governments are now required under

the legislation to develop future poverty reduction strategies.

For the future wellbeing of all Ontarians, it is essential that

our fight against poverty transcend four-year government

mandates and span decades, if not generations. Poverty

reduction must be a long-term endeavour, supported by

strong multi-faceted policy solutions and ongoing stakeholder

and community engagement. Ontarians deserve nothing less.


THE WAY FORWARD

Despite a backdrop of serious economic pressures, much

was achieved under the first Poverty Reduction Strategy.

The first strategy made a difference in the lives of many

people in Ontario who were living in poverty. It will have

a lasting legacy as we continue to support and build upon

many of the key initiatives of the first strategy.

Still, we know that there is much more that needs to be

done. Poverty reduction is a complex and broad undertaking

and requires a multi-pronged approach over the long term.

We must seek to better understand the impact of our

investments and consider where opportunities remain and

how to best target our resources to make further progress

in our fight against poverty.

A Collective Fight Against Poverty – The Role of Federal and Municipal Governments

Despite all our efforts, our government is well aware

that we cannot achieve the goals of poverty reduction

alone. Fighting poverty exceeds the capacity of any one

government. Collective action from all levels of government

is imperative to make lasting gains in reducing poverty.

The federal government and municipalities across the

province have a collective role to play in Ontario’s continued

fight against poverty. Over the course of the first Poverty

Reduction Strategy, the federal government partnered with

the province in investing in new housing infrastructure and

in affordable and social housing initiatives. Some gains were

made for working families through federal tax benefits. But

more support from the federal government is required to

break the cycle of poverty. Poverty reduction could be

accelerated through federal funding support in critical areas

such as child care, early learning, skills training and increased

support to unemployed workers. Our government looks

forward to continued and strategic partnerships between

Ontario and the federal government to improve the lives of

low-income people in the province. Through collaboration

with Ottawa, we can continue our efforts to build a fair

society.

Municipal governments are the closest to their communities

and are best placed to put poverty reduction initiatives into

action. Some municipalities have shown outstanding

leadership in creating local poverty reduction roundtables

to mobilize community action. We applaud these initiatives

and recognize their importance in galvanizing the collective

action of communities, not-for-profit and private sector

organizations to engage and invest in activities that help

to alleviate poverty.

Our government acknowledges the contribution of many

across Ontario, who, over the life of the first strategy,

demonstrated their commitment to help people in

communities throughout the province break the cycle

of poverty.

As we move forward, we will continue to require an “all

hands on deck” approach to make further strides in the fight

against poverty. Breaking the cycle of poverty transcends the

mandate of any one government and we must all dedicate

ourselves to finding solutions to make a lasting difference in

the lives of people most in need.


Ontario’s New Five-Year Poverty Reduction Strategy – What We Heard

Over the late summer and early fall, we engaged in a broad

consultation process to gain input into developing a renewed

Poverty Reduction Strategy. For more than two months,

consultations were held in communities across the province.

It was an important opportunity for the people of Ontario to

add their voices and offer their perspectives on how to best

tackle the ongoing issues of poverty. We heard about what’s

working to support Ontario families and protect the most

vulnerable and we heard about what more can be done to

build a fair province, where everyone can better share in its

prosperity. We heard from people who have experienced

poverty. We heard from community groups and social

services organizations that support those in need.

Our government heard from individuals from all walks of life

and the message was clear: we need to help all Ontarians

living in poverty. Our first strategy put a special focus on

children from low-income backgrounds and their families,

as a means to break the cycle of intergenerational poverty.

Through the consultation process, people wanted to ensure

that, going forward, our poverty reduction efforts target a

broader base of people in need. Many also felt that the most

effective way to address poverty was by putting greater focus

on job skills and training programs. Improving people’s

prospects for attaining gainful employment was seen as

the key to independence and economic self-sufficiency.

We thank the thousands of people who contributed their

perspectives in shaping the next Poverty Reduction Strategy,

which will be released in the spring of 2014. We recognize

that the first strategy was just a starting point, and that there

are opportunities that still need to be addressed in the fight

against poverty.

We are working on developing a new strategy that will go

further in addressing barriers to employment through a

combination of direct and indirect supports. Supporting

people to improve their employment prospects is even

more essential during a time of continued economic

challenges. We recognize that during times of global

economic pressures, it is even more important to invest

in the people who are most impacted. We also recognize

that strengthening the province’s social safety net remains

essential so that it will be there for those who need it when

they need it.

Our government is committed to breaking the cycle of

poverty by creating the opportunity for all low-income

people in Ontario to improve their lives. We want to put

the tools into people’s hands so we will all be able to

share in the prosperity of this great province together.

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BREAKING THE CYCLE: THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT: Ontario… · BREAKING THE CYCLE: THE FIFTH PROGRESS REPORT ontario.ca/breakingthecycle2 The Honourable Teresa Piruzza Minister of Children